With a few exceptions, for over three hours
Upper San Juan Health Service District board members and members of
the audience at the district's regular board meeting engaged in a he
said/she said discussion that, in the end, got nowhere.

It started even before the minutes from a
series of previous meetings could be approved - the second item on
the agenda after establishing a quorum.

"Don't shake your head, Dan," Board Chairman
Charles Hawkins said to Dan Keuning, who was sitting with the rest of
the public. Keuning, a family nurse practitioner, is a former
employee of the district who now works for a private family medical
practice in the community.

Keuning and the rest of the audience had
been sitting quietly up to that point. (In a later interview, he said
he was shaking his head because of the number of corrections being
made to a long list of minutes.) After Hawkins' comment, Keuning got
up and left the room. The rest of the crowd began laughing.

During the laughter, Hawkins made a comment
to another member of the audience, Jim Sawicki.

"I can laugh if I want to," Sawicki replied.
The two argued back and forth for a few moments, their voices
escalating.

"Get the officer to escort this man out,"
Hawkins screamed at one point. A Pagosa Springs police officer
entered and asked Sawicki to leave.

Sawicki did.

Audience members vocally expressed their
displeasure.

"Are we going to get back to business or are
we going to listen to these people who don't matter?" Hawkins said.
That comment led to an outright uproar.

"I won't tolerate this nonsense," Hawkins
said. "If I have to clear the room I will."

"You can't" and "Go ahead and try" were just
some of the responses heard in the community center conference
room.

Hawkins replied that he could have the whole
audience of 40 or 50 removed, "because this is my meeting, not
yours."

One woman screamed for the officer to come
back in and escort Hawkins out, others yelled directly at the board.
The officer returned, asking everyone to calm down.

Eventually, the board returned to approving
the minutes and then committee reports.

During the reports, Director Patty Tillerson
apologized for Hawkins stating that he and several other board
members had been working hard under a great deal of stress for a long
time. Just this week, she said, Hawkins, had been under added strain
because of some severe illnesses in family members.

"He's hardly slept," she said, asking the
crowd "to find it in their heart" to accept the apology.

Hawkins interrupted to say that he needed to
apologize for himself, and did.

"I've been under terrible pressure in the
last week," he said. "We need to move forward."

Tillerson continued with her report, telling
the crowd that not only did Hawkins put in extra hours with the
district, he actually called individual board members to "pick our
brains" on issues, involving everyone in decisions.

She went on with her report on the grants
and funding committee, saying that before moving forward with grants,
the committee was waiting until some of the planning for the future
was complete.

"Stay tuned," she said. "We are working, but
we're going to do it right."

Things calmed down somewhat. Audience
members periodically fired questions at district staff or board
members throughout the rest of the meeting and received answers in
most cases.

During discussion of district board bylaws,
Board Member Debra Brown asked if 24/7 on call coverage could be
added at the end of a list of "goals" for district services - listed
by funding priority. By 24/7 she meant having coverage beyond EMS
which always operates on a 24/7 schedule.

Dr. Jim Pruitt, sitting in the audience,
asked if she meant on call coverage by a physician as discussed at
past Citizen Advisory Committee meetings, or if physician assistants
and nurses would be used as well.

What followed was a long discussion of who
said what at which meeting when.

Another citizen said he wanted local
coverage by local doctors only. "I don't want some doctor in Alamosa
saying do this, do this. I don't want any nurse practitioner or
registered nurse giving me advice. I want this doctor and this
doctor," he said, pointing to local health care providers in the
audience.

Hawkins replied that having local doctors on
call evenings and weekends is something the district is working
toward. It isn't fully operational yet. Brown's request was approved
with rest of the bylaws without specifying "physician"
coverage.

A little later in the meeting, tempers
flared again when the board began to discuss Dr. Dick Blide's
appearance at a recent League of Women Voter's Forum.

Blide, a member of the board, spoke at the
meeting, calling the board, "deaf, dumb and blind," - figuratively -
because, he said, they simply rubber stamp ideas handed down by the
district manager and because they failed to do anything about the
entire staff of the medical center resigning back in March.

Blide told the audience at the forum he was
speaking as a private citizen, not as a board member. He also said he
respected the people involved, but disagreed with them, "100
percent."

At the league meeting, he called for the
resignation of both the board chairman and the district executive
director, Dee Jackson.

Board member Brown said the negative attacks
on Jackson and the board were upsetting, especially those concerning
Jackson which should have been addressed through the district's
personnel grievance policy, not in a public meeting.

She went back and forth with members of the
audience and Blide about when during his speech he actually said he
was speaking as a member of the public. Some said it was right at the
beginning. Brown contended it was more like 10 minutes into the
speech.

She asked Blide if his negativity was going
to continue, how it was going to be possible to work together as a
board.

"Are you ready to go forward on rebuilding
the clinic and EMS?" she asked.

Blide said at every level of government up
to the Supreme Court the voice of dissention is allowed to be heard.
Many times, he said, it's the voice of accountability.

The discussion continued with comments fired
between board members and board members and the public. Topics
included the situation at EMS, the clinic staff resignations,
Hawkins' experience in health care and his relationship with district
management.

"I am my own person and nobody directs me,"
he said.

Through the public comment part of the
meeting, the accusations continued.

Pruitt took the two minutes allotted to each
person to speak to the audience about his concerns with the current
lack of communication between local doctors and EMS as far as quality
assurance. Once again, comments flew around the room about who had
called who to try to open communication with local doctors, how many
times and so on.

When asked by Hawkins if communication could
be opened now, Pruitt said, "No," under the current board.

Audience member J.R. Ford said as long as
the board chairman continues to walk a fine line with the truth, the
board will continue to lose credibility with the public.

Hawkins maintained he stated the
facts.

Board members and one or two in the audience
pleaded with everyone to stop the attacks, the destructive behavior,
the fingerpointing and to move forward. To work together.

It didn't happen. At least not Tuesday
night.

County sets prayer code for
center

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

A policy containing draft language
addressing prayer during senior functions at the Silver Foxes Den in
the Pagosa Springs Community Center was adopted this week by
Archuleta County commissioners.

According to Bill Steele, county
administrator, the policy is based on guidelines set forth by
Colorado Area Agencies on Aging and adheres to the principles of the
federal Older Americans Act.

The draft language included in the policy
adopted by the board Tuesday states, "Each individual participant
clearly has a free choice whether or not to pray, either silently or
audibly. The county, in any manner, including any and all employees
of the county, will not sponsor lead, or organize the prayer."

The decision to adopt the policy comes one
month after roughly 20 senior citizens attended the Aug. 12
commissioners' meeting to voice support for Billie White Evans, who
appeared before the board to protest a late-July decision by
management to prohibit open prayer before meals at the center.

During a lengthy appeal to the commissioners
to address the ban on the center's "lunch-time blessing," Evans told
the board she was prepared to pursue legal action if the matter was
not resolved to the satisfaction of those seeking reinstatement of
the prayer.

In the interim, the county agreed to allow
the prayers to continue while seeking legal advice on the issue from
the state attorney general's office and the Colorado Department of
Local Affairs, but neither could recommend a viable solution.

A subsequent appeal for guidance to the
state area agencies on aging network ultimately led to this week's
decision, which garnered favorable comments from Evans.

"This is what we wanted," Evans told the
board, "Thank you."

Health panel adopts mission,
vision and core values statements

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

Amid the fingerpointing, shouting and
rebuttles, at Tuesday's Upper San Juan Health Service District
meeting, some board action was taken, including adoption of revised
mission, vision and core values statements.

The mission statement, revised from one
passed in 1997, reads: "Our mission is to provide the highest quality
physical, mental and preventive health care for citizens and visitors
of Archuleta, Southern Hinsdale and Western Mineral counties in a
cost-effective and responsible manner."

The vision statement, which had to be
written from scratch, reads: "We will strive to provide an
integrated, expanding and educating health care system while
maintaining quality professional service for our community."

- Innovation: searching for new and creative
ways of providing service,

- Communication: board members, employees
and community members openly sharing and receiving ideas and
information,

- Leadership at all levels: challenging the
process, inspiring vision and leading the way,

- Teamwork: approaching decision-making and
problem solving by involving all employees and focusing on people
first, then processes.

Charles Hawkins, board chairman, said the
board devised the new statements during a pair of work sessions in
September.

Business Manager John Farnsworth told the
board after a full month in a rebuilding mode at the Dr. Mary Fisher
Medical Center, the district's overall cash position is actually
better than expected.

Back in July, Farnsworth provided the board
with a cash flow projection based on rebuilding the clinic instead of
privatizing. In that projection, ending cash for the district in
August was placed at $456,187. Now that actual figures are available,
that number is $483,187 - $27,000 more than expected. Net cash losses
in both EMS and the clinic were less than projected.

The costs of locum tenens - contracted
doctors who've been covering the district temporarily until permanent
staff can be hired - and a temporary technician, also didn't
drain district coffers as much as some in the public expected,
Farnsworth said.

According to the Dr. Mary Fisher Medical
Center income statement, actual total staff expenses for the month of
August totaled $52,842. The amount budgeted for the month back in
Oct. 2002, totaled $51,870. The result is a budget overrun of less
than 2 percent.

Kathy Saley, public relations and training
coordinator, reported that results of a customer service survey of
clinic patients conducted in August and September were very
positive.

Patients were asked to rank the clinic on a
scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best on seven factors of their
visits, including: waiting time, cleanliness of the facility,
telephone courtesy, professionalism of the nurses and physicians and
the efficiency and friendliness of the check out process.

The average (weighted) response on nursing
staff professionalism, knowledge and helpfulness was 8.69. The lowest
score came on wait time. That average weighted response was
7.44.

Saley said surveys were distributed to those
coming into the clinic one week, filled out by phone another week and
mailed out a third week to cover a variety of bases.

The board also approved a motions to adopt
employee policies on responsible use of the Internet, outside
employment, direct deposit of earnings and exit interviews.

'Zoning plan' wording makes
process debut

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

A request from the Archuleta County Planning
Department to begin implementation of the remaining policies outlined
in the Community Plan received the green light Tuesday from county
commissioners.

Heading the list of issues included in the
Community Plan, which was adopted as a visionary guideline for growth
in 2001, is how the county will choose to address the rising need for
growth management.

While past discussions on the subject have
only alluded to what has been referred to as the "z word,"
Commissioner Mamie Lynch's motion this week to approve a trio of
planning staff recommendations to begin the implementation process
included specific reference to a "zoning plan."

During a lighthearted exchange in which
Commissioner Bill Downey asked Lynch if she might consider amending
her motion to include the terminology "land use districts" instead of
"zoning plan," Lynch responded, "No, sir, I will not."

"I'll second it anyway," replied Downey, and
the motion carried unanimously thereafter.

In short, planning staff's plan targeting
how the county will tackle the growth issue is based on a high level
of community participation and feedback, including volunteer
participation in focus groups, surveys and public hearings.

One of the notions approved by the
commissioners this week was a recommendation from planning staff to
create a committee charged with selecting diverse groups of
individuals - representing various areas of the county - from the
pool of volunteers the planning department is seeking to participate
in the process.

Those selected will serve on focus groups,
participate in question-and-answer sessions and be asked to offer
suggestions regarding how they feel the county should pursue the
revision of current land use regulations, or the development of new
alternatives.

The board moved to appoint itself as the
selection committee for the focus groups, and indicated it will take
on the responsibility in accordance with suggestions from the
planning department and county administrators.

Though subject to modification, the
following is a general outline of planning staff's initiative in its
entirety:

- planning six meetings in five
different areas of the county. Meeting locations will include Chromo
and Arboles (at a home, school or church), the Vista Clubhouse, Aspen
Springs (at a home or possibly the metro building) and the community
center. An additional meeting, held exclusively for students, will
take place at Pagosa Springs High School

- recruiting volunteers from the meeting
areas and then submitting a volunteer list to the county
commissioners for review; the commissioners will then select 12-15
individuals from each area that will constitute a focus group at each
meeting

- after all of the focus groups have
concluded, the commissioners will appoint a "Community Plan
Implementation Team," or citizens' committee, to continue the
process

- in addition, planning staff will compile
all of the qualitative information gained, acknowledge similarities
and differences in responses and analyze the results

- a bilingual survey based on the results
will then be recommended in order to determine whether or not the
general public agrees with the findings

- following the survey, all cumulative data
will be provided to the Community Plan Implementation Team for
review

- the resulting preferred scenarios will
then be presented to the planning commission and county commissioners
during a joint work session and public hearing(s), then be presented
for additional public comment.

The timeline involved with the proposal
calls for possible new regulations to be ready for consideration by
the commissioners within one year.

"We hope to have a draft policy ready for
review by next spring," said Marcus Baker, associate county planner,
"And we plan on having something concrete ready for adoption by fall
of next year, if not sooner."

Anyone interested in volunteering to
participate in the process should contact planning staff at 264-5851
or stop by the planning department office at 527 A San Juan St.

Weather

Date High Low Precipitation

Type Depth Moisture

9/10

62

38

-

-

-

9/11

64

39

-

-

-

9/12

69

37

-

-

-

9/13

68

34

-

-

-

9/14

67

37

-

-

-

9/15

71

38

-

-

-

9/16

74

40

-

-

-

Colorfest forecast: Blue skies
and mild temps

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

If the latest forecasts for Pagosa Country
hold true, anyone wishing to attend this week's outdoor Colorfest
activities need not worry about the possibility of being rained
out.

According to Brian Avery, a forecaster with
the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction, the monsoon is
most likely over and abundant sunshine mixed with mild temperatures
should be the norm for the next seven days.

"The weather pattern for the Four Corners
region has shifted away from a monsoonal flow and back to a north by
northwesterly flow," said Avery. "In other words, we're heading into
a fairly dry, benign weather activity period for the coming
week."

As a result, said Avery, this weekend's
hot-air balloon ascensions should take place under azure skies,
though early-morning temperatures will be on the chilly side.

"We've got some of the coolest air masses of
the season dipping into the state from the northwest," said Avery.
"Daytime highs will hit the mid-70s, but we could hit the freezing
point by Sunday morning."

Otherwise, according to Avery, the forecast
is generally pleasant, with highs today expected to range from the
upper 60s to mid-70s. Nighttime lows should fall into the
mid-30s.

Sunshine and clear skies are predicted to
dominate the forecast for Friday; highs should peak in the mid-70s
while lows should settle into the upper 30s.

Saturday and Sunday call for mostly-sunny
skies, light afternoon breezes, highs in the 70s and lows around
freezing.

The forecasts for Monday through Wednesday
are redundant in foretelling of mostly-clear skies, highs in the low
to mid-70s, and lows in the mid-30s.

The average high temperature recorded last
week at Stevens Field was 68 degrees. The average low for the week
was 38. Precipitation totals for the week amounted to zero.

The Pagosa Ranger District continues to list
the current regional fire danger as "low." Conditions are subject to
change rapidly this time of year; for updates and more information,
call the district office at 264-2268.

The National Allergy Bureau rates area
pollen counts as "high" and lists sage and ragweed as the current
dominant pollens.

San Juan River flow ranged from 400 cubic
feet per second over the weekend to approximately 135 cubic feet per
second Wednesday morning. The river's historic median flow for the
week of Sept. 18 is roughly 80 cubic feet per second.

Sports Page

Parks &
Rec

Youth soccer, coed volleyball
underway

By Joe Lister Jr.

SUN Columnist

Youth soccer is in full swing, with 26 teams
from the ages of 5-13. We have games scheduled for
Tuesdays/Thursdays, with the possibility of some Saturday play for
weather related make-up games. Games are scheduled through Oct.
16.

If you do not have children playing but
enjoy watching the little ones play soccer, please stop by the soccer
fields just south of the elementary school, or in Town Park.

Adult
volleyball

Coed adult volleyball is set to start next
week with games to be played in the community center gymnasium on
Mondays and Wednesdays through November.

Parks association

The annual conference for the Colorado Parks
and Recreation Association will be held in Steamboat Springs. The
event attracts vendors, and leading speakers in the field of parks
and recreation.

In 2004 we plan to build the first phase of
the Pagosa Springs Sports Complex. With this in mind, it will
be nice to talk to vendors and contractors. The vendors especially
interesting to us will be the lighting and landscape architects. We
do have a master plan, but the total design of Phase One will be up
for bid, hopefully in February.

Capitol improvements

We had budgeted for remodeling the Town Park
gazebo this year. However, with the busy summer, then the tax revenue
shortfall, we are cutting back the improvements.

The building was reroofed, and the restrooms
painted. The last little improvement will be to put in new stalls in
both restrooms.

The work done has made a big difference in
the building. You can see the plans by coming into town hall and
seeing the rendering of the gazebo.

We hope to paint and stucco the exterior
next spring.

Pirates qualify team for state
golf tourney

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

There was dramatic, nail-biting
tension.

Pagosa Springs senior Casey Belarde calmed
himself and readied a putt for par on the 18th hole Tuesday in
Pueblo.

Make it and the Pagosa Springs High School
golf team qualifies for state. Miss and only three players will go as
individuals.

But he opted, with two strokes left for par,
to chip to the hole with a wedge and then putt out for par. He did
and it meant a second-place finish in the regionals for the Pagosa
team.

Canon City fired a 218 for first place.
Pagosa Springs was second at 235 and the host school, Pueblo West,
finished a stroke back at 236.

Only two teams advance from regional
action.

Other players can qualify individually if
they finish within 10 strokes of the low score of the last team
qualifier. For this tournament that figure was 79.

That meant that Pagosa's fourth finisher,
Jake Mackensen was one stroke off qualifying with his score of
90.

The Pirates, despite the play by Belarde
down the stretch, were paced by senior Ty Faber who shot a 75 on the
par 72 course.

He was 4-over after the first four holes,
but stormed back to play the last 14 holes 1-under.

Tom Huckins was close behind at 78, playing
steady golf all day, never far from the lead and keeping space
between himself and pursuers and Belarde came in at 82.

That 18th hole, coach Mark Faber said, is a
tough par-4 with sand traps right and left and an uphill lie.

"We knew as Casey came in that he had to par
the hole for us to go. His fairway shot went through the right bunker
and climbed up to the lip."

Wind, which the team had experienced in a
practice round on the course the day before, was not a factor until
Belarde's last three holes Tuesday.

"But," said the coach, "it turned out to be
a favor because it came up at his back."

Not allowed to coach his senior, who has cut
16 strokes from his early season average, Faber was pleased to see
him go for two shots rather than trying for birdie.

"On our practice round, we all had trouble
holding the green with putts rolling far past the hole. When Casey
opted to go for par, it was the right decision for the
occasion."

The kids went wild when his 2-footer dropped
in the hole for his par, Faber said.

"It meant we were going to state as a team."

All season long, the coach had been saying
he could see no reason Pagosa could not qualify a team entry for
state.

On Tuesday, the golfers proved him a
soothsayer.

Ty Faber was the only member of the team who
had seen the course before the practice round Monday, having played
there in regionals last year as Pagosa's lone representative.

"He remembered the struggles with the wind,
and as we practiced it was he who first noted how fast the greens
were," the coach said.

On that basis, he said, "we decided we'd be
better off to chip short and putt for par rather than take a chance
on the ball running."

With the temperature at 90, the wind
growing, a crowd of 75-100 in the 18th hole gallery and the pressure
mounting, Belarde put the issue to rest.

"And then," the coach said, we waited around
to be sure, to see the totals posted. It was bittersweet that Jake
didn't make it."

But it proves that one stroke given up
anywhere on the course can come back and get you at the end.

"There was a great Pagosa Springs turnout
for the playoffs," said Faber. A tribute, he said, to "families and
friends who will sacrifice their personal time and take off from work
to support what many see as a minor sport.

"These kids proved it isn't a minor effort
to them, and we hope the Pagosa crowd will be even larger when we go
to state competition Sept. 29 and 30 in Alamosa."

Pirates improve to 2-1 with
27-14 win over Delta

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

In high school football, road wins over
teams from larger school districts are often hard to come by.

Throw in the fact the Pirates climbed onto
the bus before daylight Saturday, crossed the Continental Divide
twice during their 400-mile round trip and returned home after 10
p.m., and the win is that much sweeter.

However, Delta appeared ready to take
advantage of the road-weary Pirates from the onset when some
miscommunication by the Pagosa defense enabled Panther tailback Brett
Christie to burst 85 yards up the left sideline for a touchdown on
the third play of the game.

The point-after attempt failed, but the home
crowd was celebrating the Panthers' homecoming weekend with a 6-0
lead just one minute into the contest.

Things looked even brighter for the Panthers
after a third-down fumble on the Pirates' opening possession gave
Delta the ball back within striking distance at the Pagosa 36.

But the Pirate defense answered the
challenge, and Delta turned the ball over on downs after a sack from
Pagosa's Bubba Martinez forced the Panthers into a failed pass
attempt on fourth and long.

The Pirates had to punt on their ensuing
possession, but after the defense held Delta to three and out, Pagosa
set out for what would prove to be a long scoring drive from its own
17-yard line.

Alternating runs from Pirate tailback Jeremy
Caler and fullback Marcus Rivas and a key third-down strike from
quarterback David Kern to Brett Ford moved the ball across
midfield.

Then a short gainer from Caler and an
encroachment penalty gave the Pirates a second and 1 from the 40, and
sophomore tailback Daniel Aupperle evened the score on the next play,
taking a handoff and galloping to paydirt with 28 seconds left in the
opening period.

Aupperle's extra-point attempt was good, and
following his kickoff the first quarter ended with Delta facing
second and long from its own 30, trailing the visitors 7-6.

Pagosa's Manuel Madrid recovered a Panther
fumble at the 25 on the first play of the second stanza, but an
interception just two plays later by Delta's Curtis Englehart ended
the Pirate threat and gave his team the ball on its own 6-yard
line.

Delta looked to be on track offensively from
that point and was moving the ball efficiently until Pirate senior
defensive end Coy Ross forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate
Korey Hart at the Panther 35.

Caler made good on the turnover two plays
later, breaking tackles en route to a 35-yard scoring jaunt that put
the Pirates up 13-6 with 8:00 left in the half.

After converting the point-after attempt,
Aupperle booted the ensuing kickoff into the end zone for a touchback
and the Panthers set up from their own 20 trailing 14-6.

The teams then traded punts with neither
mounting a scoring threat until Pagosa set up for a 42-yard field
goal attempt by Aupperle with 38 seconds left in the half.

The kick drifted wide left, however, and the
half ended with the Pirate lead holding at 14-6 after Panther
quarterback Blake Carlquist took a knee to run out the clock.

The Pirates would strike quick to open the
second half; Aupperle returned the Panther kickoff to the Pagosa 34,
then followed up with a first-down carry to the Pirate 45.

Two plays later Kern ducked inside on a
quarterback keeper and raced untouched for a 55-yard score that
extended the Pirate lead to 14. The point-after attempt failed, but
Pagosa led 20-6 with 10:29 left in the third.

On Delta's next possession, Panther wideout
Brendon Simmons fumbled at his team's 43-yard line after being hit by
Pagosa's Paul Armijo, and once again Hart came up with the loose ball
for the Pirates.

Pagosa failed to move the ball into scoring
range, but Armijo's punt pinned Delta inside its own 20-yard line and
the Panthers were soon in punt formation at the goal line after an
intentional grounding call on third down.

O'Donnell put the punt block on and Kern
smothered the attempt inside the goal line; Caler recovered the ball
for the score and Pagosa led 27-6 after the extra point from
Aupperle.

However, following Aupperle's kickoff, it
looked as if the tide might turn in favor of the Panthers as the
Pirates appeared to be suffering the effects of the long road trip
for the first time in the contest.

Pressed for time, the Delta offense opened
up and drove to the Pagosa 35 to end the third quarter and scored on
a 5-yard pass from Carlquist to Rider before completing a two-point
conversion to make it 27-14 with 10:46 on the clock.

After holding the Pirates to three and out
on their next possession, the Panthers used a series of quick passes
to drive inside the Pagosa 5 with under seven minutes to play.

But Aupperle came up big for Pagosa on
Delta's first and goal from the 3, intercepting Carlisle in the end
zone and returning the ball to the line of scrimmage with 6:30
remaining in the game.

Kern dashed to the Delta 39 three plays
later, and although the Pirates came up shy on fourth down from the
32, a Caler sack on Delta's ensuing fourth down gave Pagosa
possession at the two-minute mark.

Rivas carried for a first down in the final
minute, and the Pirates ran out the clock to win 27-14 and improve
their season record to 2-1.

Kern led the Pirate ground attack with 126
yards on 15 carries, followed by Caler with 76 yards on 17 carries.
Aupperle contributed 68 yards on 7 carries.

Rivas led the way defensively, tallying 11
tackles for Pagosa, followed by Bubba Martinez with nine and Armijo
with eight.

"We had a difficult week with a lot of kids
being sick, and we ended up having to shift guys around the best we
could," said O'Donnell after the game, "But we got by with a
win."

One of the adjustments put Rivas at fullback
this week, and O'Donnell indicated the 200-pound junior will likely
stay there for the remainder of the season.

"I think the move (from center) makes us
tougher; he's a good, physical blocking back," said O'Donnell. "We
can still run out of a split-back set with him, and he also enables
us to line up in the 'I' formation when we want to."

With respect to his team's overall
performance, "I was pleased with the way the defense bounced back
after giving up that first quick score," said O'Donnell, "But we're
still not quite playing at the level we need to be.

"And I'm a little frustrated with the
offense, trying to pinpoint exactly where the problems are," added
O'Donnell. "We're just not clicking consistently; we're missing some
reads, making wrong reads and committing too many penalties.

"But we're certainly happy to be 2-1," he
concluded.

O'Donnell and the Pirates stay home for
their next three contests, the first of which takes place tomorrow
against Class 3A Montrose. Game time at Golden Peaks stadium is set
for 7 p.m.

Summary

Pagosa 7 7 13 0-27

Delta 6 0 0 8-14

First Quarter

Pag - Aupperle 40 run (Aupperle kick)

Del - Christie 85 run (kick failed)

Second Quarter

Pag - Caler 35 run (Aupperle kick)

Third Quarter

Pag - Kern 55 run (kick failed)

Pag - Caler fumble recovery after Kern punt

block (Aupperle kick)

Fourth Quarter

Del - Rider 5 pass from Carlquist

Lady Pirates beat Centauri for
second IML win

By Karl Isberg

Staff Writer

If the Sept. 13 Pagosa win over Centauri
proved anything about the Lady Pirate volleyball team, it is that
there is great potential on the team and a lot of work to be done
before season's end.

The 3-1 win, the second Intermountain League
victory of the young season, was achieved without consistent,
effective play, giving rise to the thought that the Ladies will be
formidable when all the elements of their game come together.

Pagosa let the Falcons hang close in the
first game of the match, with Centauri taking a 12-10 lead.

Sophomore Liza Kelley took the serve and
stayed there for eight points, hitting two aces during the run. The
Ladies got points on blocks by Caitlyn Jewell and Lori Walkup and on
two kills by Walkup.

With Pagosa ahead 19-13, that should have
been enough, but Centauri refused to give in and used a series of
Lady Pirate errors to close the gap to 23-21. Pagosa mistakes
continued to plague the team and, combined with a Falcon ace and a
stuff block by the Centauri middle blocker, the Falcons went in front
25-24, needing only one point to take the game.

Laura Tomforde killed for a point to tie the
score then hit an ace. Walkup crushed a Centauri pass that crossed
the net and the Ladies escaped with the 27-25 win.

Pagosa went in front 6-2 in the second game,
but the Falcons played a good back row game and took advantage of
continuing Pagosa mistakes to stay close, drawing to within three,
19-16.

At that point, the Lady Pirate game came
unraveled and the visitors ran off five consecutive points, handed
over on a rash of receive, serve and passing errors.

The teams battled back and forth, tying at
22 and 24. Pagosa went ahead 25-24 on a Falcon hitting error, but
Centauri got a kill and a point on a poor Pagosa attack to lead
26-25.

Jewell killed off the pass to tie the game
at 26. Centauri went ahead by a point on a serve mistake by Pagosa
but junior middle hitter Bri Scott killed to tie the score again.

The next Pagosa serve went out (one of 15
serve errors in the match), giving up a point and an attempted kill
was out, giving Centauri the 29-27 victory.

Centauri managed a 5-3 advantage in the
early going in game three but a solo block by Jewell and two
consecutive kills by Walkup sent the home team ahead. The Falcons got
a boost on another Lady Pirate serve error but Pagosa took the serve
back and Walkup was at the serve for four points. Pagosa led 11-6.

The Ladies stayed in front the remainder of
the game getting earned points on kills by Jewell and Walkup, and a
stuff block by Scott. Centauri lingered within reach, however,
garnering points as a result of unfocused back row play by the Ladies
and a bevy of Pagosa hitting errors. Sophomore Caitlin Forrest ended
the game at 25-17 with an ace.

Pagosa took off well in the fourth game of
the evening, running off four points with Jewell at the serve and
building a 6-3 lead. The teams traded two-point runs before Centauri
went in front 11-8.

Scott and Forrest combined on a block,
Pagosa received a point on an errant Falcon kill and Kelley put a
roll shot down to tie the game at 11-11.

It was back and forth in the midsection of
the game: Centauri went up 14-11 but the Ladies benefitted from
Falcon errors and an ace by Scott to go in front 15-14.

Centauri took a 17-15 lead, then built the
lead to 19-16 before the Ladies rallied to tie the score, getting a
point on a Falcon hit that went out, a kill by Jewell and an ace by
Kelley.

The Falcons got their last advantage of the
evening on a kill but a serve error gave a point and the serve to
Pagosa. With Jewell at the serve, the Ladies ran the table. Scott hit
to the back line, Walkup scored with a kill, Forrest nailed a putback
of a faulty Falcon pass and the blocks went up, stifling Falcon
hitters and forcing them into two consecutive errors. The Ladies had
the 25-20 win.

Coach Penné Hamilton highlighted her
team's lack of consistency and intensity against a Centauri team
lacking the usual height and skill at the net.

"I thought we were out of sync without
Courtney Steen (away at a family wedding) and Lori Walkup feeling
under the weather. A lot of the kids had an off night."

All was not dark, however. "On a positive
note," said the coach, "the girls stuck with it, showed character and
did some good things at times. The players who came in off the bench
did a great job for us. Liza Kelley's serving saved us at critical
times. She had 25 serves and scored 18 times."

The Ladies travel to Kirtland N.M. tonight
for a match against a tall and talented Bronco team. Pagosa returns
to the home court Saturday, playing 4A Alamosa and Montrose as part
of a triangular meet. The Ladies contend with Alamosa at 11 a.m. and
return for a match against the Indians at 3:30 p.m.

Summary

Kills: Walkup 10, Scott and Tomforde 7
each

Ace serves: Kelley 4, Tomforde 3, Scott
2

Assists: Tomforde 16, Walkup 12

Solo blocks: Jewell 3, Walkup 2

Digs: Scott 8, Kelley, Tomforde and Walkup 7
each

Win on the road gives Pagosa
head start in league race

By Karl Isberg

Staff Writer

Monte Vista's volleyball team has high hopes
for success this year, putting a seasoned team on the court for the
first time in several years, and running under the leadership of a
new head coach, Michelle Schaefer.

Hopes were bolstered in Monte Vista by a
preseason tourney win over Intermountain League rival Centauri so,
when Monte entertained the Lady Pirates Sept. 11, the team was ready
for an upset of the perennial league leaders.

It didn't happen.

In fact, Monte Vista was unable to win a
game, falling to Pagosa 25-16, 25-19, 25-19.

The gap in the scores could have been much
greater had the Lady Pirates turned over fewer points on mistakes. As
it was, Monte put only 12 earned points on the books.

The home team led Pagosa twice in the first
game of the match, going out to a 3-0 lead, then catching up to and
passing the Ladies for a 4-3 advantage.

Brandi Whomble tied the score with a kill
from outside and, with senior Amy Tautges at the serve, the Lady
Pirates went on a 5-point run. The blocks were up and Monte hitters
put the ball out three times - a factor in each of the three games -
and a Monte serve error accounted for the fifth point.

Pagosa's attack functioned well in the first
game. The Ladies went ahead 12-6, getting three points from Bri Scott
who killed from the middle and the strong side, and from Whomble.
Pagosa lapsed momentarily, giving up five unanswered points with
errors before Caitlyn Jewell scored and took back serve with a kill
from outside. Junior Laura Tomforde put two aces down for points and
stayed at serve for a 6-point spree. Jewell scored with a solo block,
Lori Walkup crushed a ball from the weak side and Courtney Steen put
a kill down from the strong side.

Pagosa gave up five points with mistakes but
went on to the win with scores from Walkup, Scott on a putback of an
errant Monte pass, Walkup - again, on a solo block - Tomforde on a
putback and the final point on a Monte hitting error.

It was Pagosa's turn in the seccond game to
go ahead 3-0 and the Lady Pirates pressed on to lead 10-4, and 14-7.
Monte crept back into contention, drawing as close at 18-15, but
surrendered three points on errors and gave up a point to Tomforde.
Monte Vista got three charity points from the Lady Pirates, but
Pagosa scored with Scott swinging to the weak side for a kill and the
home team gave up the deciding score with a net violation.

In the third match, the teams tied at 7-7.
Pagosa got earned points from Jewell, Walkup and Scott.

The Lady Pirates dominated the midsection of
the game to lead 18-9 and 20-12. Monte took advantage of sloppy play
on the Pagosa side of the net to run off five consecutive points,
earning only one with a kill. Pagosa replied with four straight
points, one a gift on a Monte serve mistake, the others on an ace by
Tautges, a kill by Scott, and a block by Walkup and Scott. The final
Pagosa point, and the win in game and match came when Walkup put a
kill to the floor.

"I loved it," said Coach Penné
Hamilton of her team's first IML win of the season. "The Monte girls
came out loud and hyped up and our girls stayed focused. We were more
aggressive and just played our game. In general, we controlled the
net with our blocking and Monte got frustrated."

Hamilton acknowledged Monte Vista is an
improved team. "They are a lot better on defense," she said, "and
they have a couple of girls who can swing at the ball. I watched who
got frustrated and we served to them. If they played the serve
receive deep, we served short. When they moved up, we served long. It
worked."

Pagosa travels to Kirtland, N.M. tonight for
a game with a tough Bronco squad. Saturday, Pagosa plays Alamosa at
11 a.m. in the home gym then returns to the court as part of a
triangular meet, playing Montrose at 3:30 p.m.

Summary

Kills: Scott 7, Jewell, Tomforde, Walkup and
Whomble 5 each

Ace serves: Scott, Tautges and Tomforde 1
each

Assists: Walkup 14, Tomforde 13

Solo blocks: Jewell 3, Walkup 2

Digs: Steen 6, Tautges and Tomforde 5
each.

Lady Pirates drop IML match to
Bayfield

By Karl Isberg

Staff Writer

If anyone finds the wheels to the Lady
Pirate volleyball wagon, please return them as soon as
possible.

They fell off Tuesday night as the Bayfield
Wolverines came to town and swept the Ladies 20-25, 24-26, 28-30, in
the first of two regular season Intermountain League meetings between
the two rivals.

Every aspect of Pagosa's game faltered as
the team handed over too many points on errors to Bayfield. The first
game of the match saw the teams stay close in score until the end of
action, but the Ladies failed to take advantage of leads in the other
two games of the match.

In the first game, the teams tied
throughout, at 5-5, 10-10, 17-17, before the Lady Pirates were bit by
the error bug and gave up four points in a five-point Bayfield run.
The home team managed to close the gap to 20-23 but a successful
Bayfield back-row attack and an ace serve gave the victory to the
visitors.

Pagosa took a 5-1 lead in the early going in
game two and was ahead 7-2 before another rash of mistakes in the
back row surrendered an unearned point. The Ladies put together one
of their few runs of the evening to extend the advantage to 15-8 then
traded points to stretch the lead to 20-12.

There was no putting the game on ice.
Bayfield scored three points, getting an earned point on a tip - a
play that worked consistently for the Wolverines - and two points on
Pagosa hitting and passing mistakes.

The Pagosa lead dwindled to 22-17 and
Bayfield made a move running off six points to the Ladies' one. The
score was tied 23-23.

Pagosa scored and Bayfield responded. A
Pagosa net error put the Wolverines ahead 25-24 and the visitors won
on a Lady Pirate setting and passing mistake.

The teams stayed close in the third game, up
to 9-9, before Pagosa surged, getting five unanswered points.
Bayfield came back immediately to close the gap to 14-13.

Pagosa put on another move - the last of the
evening for the home team - to lead 20-14, but four consecutive
serve-receive mistakes turned over points to Bayfield and the
Wolverines were within striking distance 20-19

A Pagosa back-row attack succeeded, but the
Wolverines turned the tables again, getting one earned point and
freebies off two Pagosa serve-receive mistakes and a Lady Pirate
passing error to snatch the lead, 23-21.

From there, it was a race to the finish
line. Pagosa's best chance to win came when the team went in front
25-24; a net violation tied the score. Bayfield went up 26-25; the
Ladies got a tip to the floor to tie.

A Pagosa attack went out of bounds but a
Bayfield hitting error allowed the Ladies to tie the game 27-27. A
Wolverine hit went inside the block for a point; Bayfield surrendered
a point with a setting error.

Bayfield went ahead from the 28-28 tie to
the win courtesy of Pagosa setting and hitting errors.

The Lady Pirates, now 3-3 on the season and
2-1 in the IML, seek to rebound tonight at Kirtland, N.M. in a 6:30
p.m. match with the Broncos. Action heats up Saturday at the PSHS gym
with an 11 a.m. match against 4A Montrose and a 3:30 meeting with 4A
Alamosa.

Summary

Kills: Jewell 9, Scott and Tomforde 5
each

Ace serves: Whomble 3, Tomforde 2

Assists: Tomforde 17, Kelley 6

Solo blocks: Jewell 2

Digs: Steen and Whomble 12 each, Scott
11

Lady golfers net 34 points
against Kirtland

By Lynne Allison

Special to The SUN

Pagosa's women's golf team took on Kirtland
Riverview Club Sept. 4 and picked up 34 points in league standings,
now at sixth place.

Barbara Sanborn, team captain, said six of
the teams are very close in point totals with only four and a half
points separating Pagosa and the team in second place.

Pagosa was to play Pinion Hills at Pinion
Hills layout today. The last match of the season will be Oct. 2 at
San Juan Country Club.

Opponents will be chosen according to each
team's final league standing: first vs. second, third vs. fourth,
etc.

Lady thinclads second at Aztec;
boys third

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

Both the boys' and girls' cross country
teams overcame a few bumps in the road this week to finish in the top
three in Aztec.

"We're into the duct tape and bailing wire
portion of the season," Head Coach Scott Anderson said. Just three
members of the original ladies varsity team were able to set foot on
the course. The others were out with illness.

Still, the Lady Pirates finished second as a
team - just three-points short of first-place Bayfield. Sophomore
Emilie Schur set her second course record of the year, crossing the
finish first with a time of 21 minutes, 42 seconds.

Senior Becca Blauert stepped it up a notch
when it was needed to finish 11th in 24:34. She was followed by
sophomore Drié Young in 17th with a time of 25:44, and junior
Marlena Lungstrum in 19th with a time of 26:09. Senior Lauren Caves
finished 22nd with a time of 26:24.

The Pirate boys' team finished third, a
pleasant surprise for some.

Senior Aaron Hamilton led Pagosa's attack,
finishing second in 18:01.

"He ran a spectacular race," the coach said.
"For a new runner he's showing a lot of patience."

Sophomore A.J. Abeyta battled his own
illness to finish eighth with a time of 19:34. Sophomore Orion
Sandoval ended up 24th on the day, finishing in 20:39. Riley Lynch
finished 35th with a time of 23:56. Sophomore Chris Matzdorf followed
on Lynch's heels, earning 36th place with a time of 24:12. Travis
Jones was the final runner for the boys, finishing 43rd in
28:35.

League rival Bayfield swept the varsity
races, winning team firsts in both the girls' and boys'
events.

In New Mexico races, a team consists of five
members, with a sixth used as a tie-breaker when necessary. That's
one more than allowed in Colorado.

Anderson said runners competed over a new
course in Aztec, tackling an old motorcross track with one long hill
in the middle. Pagosa will face another significant hill this
Saturday in Shiprock.

"This is a large, fast meet," Anderson said.
Several top teams from Arizona and New Mexico are expected to
compete. "This will give us another shot at a statelike
experience."

It wasn't just their traditional two-man
attack the Pirates threw at the Demons but a controlled,
multidimensional assault.

The two referred to above - Kyle Sanders and
Kevin Muirhead - were definitely involved, but so was the rest of the
Pirate offense.

And again, the defense was nearly perfect
for the Pagosans.

It started off something like the day before
when Sanders was wide left on a lead from Josh Soniat and his effort
on a drop from Muirhead was stopped by Demon keeper Ryan Bartashius
as was Moe Webb's rebound effort.

It was Soniat who broke the scoring barrier
and began the onslaught for Pagosa.

As has often been the case, the play began
with a Levi Gill takeaway and drop lead to Sanders. His cross to
Keegan Smith was stopped but Soniat was on hand for the rebound and
the first score.

Forty five seconds later Sanders was stopped
on has attempt to convert a left-foot lead from Webb.

But, at 8:38 there was no stopping Sanders
who ripped one past the outstretched Bartashius for a 2-0 lead,
assisted by crisp passing from Drew Mitchell and Muirhead to set up
the play.

Soniat had another chance at 10:06 when
Muirhead and Sanders traversed the length of the field on a
Goodenberger lead out and found Soniat alone on the right. Bartashius
saw him, too, and managed to flick his shot away.

One minute later Muirhead was stopped and
visions of his last three games must have flickered through his head,
three games in which he was blanked despite great
opportunities.

And, at 13:44, he proved he had escaped the
dry spell. Webb's center attack resulted in a side kick to the right
wing and Muirhead raced in one-on-one to drill it low left for
Pagosa's third score.

After saves for Pagosa by Caleb Forrest were
sandwiched around a Sanders drive wide left the score climbed to 4-0
when Webb converted his first of the season at 17:49 on a smooth
give-go-get exchange with Muirhead and a wide open net with Ridgway's
keeper keying on Muirhead.

Bartashius might have been wise to keep that
thought in mind because Muirhead suddenly was his worst
nightmare.

He stole a pass at midfield and led Keegan
Smith for a dink that was stopped. But a Ridgway penalty gave
Muirhead an indirect kick from 25 at 20:06 and it was good as gold
for a 5-0 Pagosa lead.

With coach Lindsey Kurt-Mason going deep
into his bench, Ridgway got a scoring opportunity at 25:20 with an
indirect of its own but it never got beyond the defense of Smith, who
was to become a human target the rest of the game.

Sanders, showing why he was Colorado boys'
soccer scoring leader last year and current Class 3A leader with 13,
drilled the Pirates' sixth goal at 25:56.

This time he didn't need the defense to get
the ball for him - he stole a Ridgway outlet and drove directly
downfield.

Bartashius came out to cut down the angle
but found himself alone as Sanders suddenly faked left, went back
right and found an open net awaiting.

Muirhead drilled one off the crossbar, Webb
had drive wide right and Sanders' indirect was stopped as the offense
slowed for a while. Sanders was stopped again on a corner kick from
Smith and both Webb and Caleb Ormonde were stopped on short
efforts.

Smith was foiled again but just a minute
later, Sanders made it 7-0 with a drive off a lead cross from
Soniat.

For Ridgway that was a break because it came
just 21 seconds before the half and gave the visitors a chance to
regroup.

Sanders opened the second half with a
indirect free kick from 35 at 40:30 but Bartashius flagged it
down.

After Forrest, returning to the offensive
side of the ball, was stopped on a liner left, Soniat snared a
Ridgway bid to break the drought foiling a nice deke move by Jimmie
Discoe.

The next 16 minutes were a Pagosa display of
possession soccer, not forcing shots and not running up the
score.

Each time Ridgway tried to make something
happen they looked up to see the ball in Pirate control.

At 58:28, the Pirates had an opportunity
they couldn't resist.

It started with another Gill steal. His
looping lead down the right wing found Forrest in step and his lead
into the middle was headed in by Sanders. Score: 8-0 for
Pagosa.

Ridgway desperately tried to make a
comeback. A botched Pagosa outlet, one of few errors on the day,
resulted in a collision and an ensuing free kick. That put two
attackers free to attack Soniat.

He was up to the challenge, stopping the
first shot and batting aside the second attacker's rebound
effort.

Then Mitchell went on the offensive. A cross
from Chris Baum was right in step but Mitchell's shot was high right.
Thirty seconds later he came out of a 4-5 player scrum with the ball
on his own, drilled one shot that was blocked and then rebounded his
own, again stopped.

Forrest was blanked on the next Pagosa
possession and Sanders was wide with consecutive reverse kicks.
Soniat had a simple save and Muirhead was wide right before Ridgway
got on the boards at 69:16 when Dylan Lacie's free kick from thirty
sank faster than Soniat expected and dribbled past him into the
net.

After both Muirhead and Sanders missed shots
off a lead from Webb, Sanders scored the final marker in the 9-1 game
with a back header at 71:20 off a corner lead from Forrest.

Ridgway's Hayk Sargysyan had three late
opportunities to make his team's total more respectable, first
shooting wide right on a breakaway, then wide left from 35 and
finally blanked on a double block by Peterson and Soniat with 27
seconds left.

For Pagosa it was the fourth win of the
season against two losses.

The Pirates host Bloomfield at 4 p.m. today
at Golden Peaks Stadium and then go on the road for league games at 5
p.m. Friday in Telluride and 7 p.m. Tuesday in Bayfield.

Key to that effort was the play, again, of
Levi Gill (seven block/takeaways) and Ryan Goodenberger (five
B/Ts).

Pagosa's first opportunity came at 2:45 when
Sanders led Kevin Muirhead on the right wing and broke to the net for
a return pass only to see a Titan defender intercept.

Two minutes and 51 seconds later Titan
Keeper Ryan Houseman stopped an attack by Pagosa's Moe Webb. And then
the misfires began.

First was Jesse Morris, breaking from his
midfielder position for an open shot that went wide right.

Gill turned in consecutive block/takeaways
on the next two Crested Butte possessions and at 8:11 Webb was on the
prowl for Pagosa.

Taking a clearing lead from Keegan Smith, he
broke defensive containment inside the 30, deked left, went right
with a defender behind on the ground and then ripped a shot wide
right off the track fence.

Goodenberger stole the Titan in-bound and
led a streaking Muirhead whose effort was stopped by Houseman.

At 11:29 Sanders' bid to give Pagosa the
lead was hauled in by Houseman after he shanked the strike off the
side of his foot.

Then it was Caleb Forrest's turn. Playing
offense instead of goal in the first half, he got a perfect lead from
Ty Peterson but his right footer from the right wing clanked off the
top of the right corner post.

Then it was Webb's turn. Driving the middle,
he got a lead from Sanders and bludgeoned the ball, a drive which
nicked off the ticket booth way wide right.

Just 21 seconds before the Sanders score,
Muirhead was stopped again by Houseman.

All that rubbed off on Drew Mitchell. The
left mid was open from 20 but his shot, too, was over the net.

Gill stole the next CB attack at midfield,
led to Morris whose reverse drop lead found Drew Fisher streaking in.
His shot was over the net at the high right corner.

On a three-man attack less than a minute
later, one of the few they executed, Webb led Sanders who fed a
crossing pass to Muirhead. His shot, again, was wide right.

At 28:52, Houseman made a great save,
hauling in a drive by Sanders of leads from Webb and Muirhead.

The litany goes on and on. Forrest to
Sanders, shot wide right; Webb wide left on a breakaway; Forrest
stopped on a corner drop from Peterson; Goodenberger stopped on a
free kick from the 40 - and then halftime.

During all that offensive display, Josh
Soniat was tested only once in goal for Pagosa, snaring a dribbler
from Chris Garren at 33:22. It was to be one of only five Crested
Butte shots on goal in the game.

The second half was more of the same with
Muirhead stopped twice in the first minute by Houseman and then, his
attempt to convert a free kick from Sanders was wide left.

Sanders followed suit when his shot off a
drop return from Muirhead was blocked.

Sanders shanked a shot wide right and
Soniat, playing offense in the second half, joined the charade with a
drive off the right post; three and a half minutes later he was high
from 30; and Sanders free kick from 30 was stopped by
Houseman.

Crested Butte's best scoring opportunity
came at 53:25 on a free direct kick hauled in by Forrest.

After a block/takeaway by Peterson, Sanders
took his lead and found Caleb Ormonde wide open in front of the net
but he missed the kick.

Again Peterson stole an attack pass, leading
Webb whose drop to Sanders was headed over the crossbar; Muirhead was
stopped again on a breakaway effort and then Forrest got to make his
second save on a dribbler to his right.

After Soniat's next drive hit the crossbar,
Crested Butte's Chris Nicolaisen drilled one from 20 but right at
Forrest for the save.

After Pagosa efforts by Sanders and Smith
were hauled in by Houseman, Webb drilled one from 40 which glanced
off the scoreboard deep behind the south goal.

The exercise in missed opportunities
thankfully ended when Sanders' penalty kick was blocked by Houseman
and Soniat's rebound effort was off the right post.

Final: 1-0 Pagosa.

And Kurt-Mason, shaking his head, walked off
the field saying: "This was frustrating. We showed no patience. We
need to support each other and work for the good shot, not fire at
will."

The victory hiked Pagosa's record to 3-2 on
the season, 2-0 in league play.

The Pirates host Bloomfield at 4 p.m. today
at Golden Peaks Stadium and then have league games at Telluride (5
p.m. Friday) and Bayfield (7 p.m. Tuesday).

Joe was born Oct. 25, 1925, to Vincente
Manzanares and Lucia (Atencio) Manzanares in Monte Vista, Colo. He
was 77 years old.

It was in 1944 that he married his lifelong
sweetheart, Dora Villareal, in the San Luis Valley.

Joe was both a member of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus since
moving to Pagosa Springs with his wife in 1956. He enjoyed hunting,
woodworking and spending time with his family when he was not working
as a heavy equipment operator for the local sawmill.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents,
two sisters and one brother, a son, Joe A. Manzanares, and a
daughter, Petra.

He is survived by his wife, Dora of Pagosa
Springs; a sister, Francis Soliz ,of Delta, Colo.; daughter and
husband Jeanette and Randy Dean of Choctaw, Okla.; daughter Diana
Bruder of Pagosa Springs; sons and spouses Vicente and Sis
Manzanares, Gerald and Jane Manzanares, Billy and Lori Manzanares and
Fred and Virginia Manzanares, all of Pagosa Springs; 14
grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and
nephews.

Both the Rosary at 7 p.m. today and the Mass
of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, will be held in
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs, the Rev.
Father John Bowe officiating. Burial will follow in Hilltop
Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the
American Cancer Society, 3801 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301, or call
1-800-227-2345.

That decision was reached Sept. 11 after PLPOA directors heard a
preliminary report they contracted from Chris Phillips of Riverbend
Engineering.

The board agreed it will invite Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation
District and Archuleta County to participate in the joint workshop.

Using base maps provided by PAWS and overlays showing his own
observations, Phillips showed all lakes in the Pagosa Lakes area and
delineated their water sheds.

He also showed spots which could or should be designated wetlands,
and sites where retention basins and sediment ponds might be logical.

Phillips told the board his studies indicate the need for all
agencies serving the area to determine what, where, when and how
water supply needs will be met.

"We can identify problems, develop action plans, present the plans
and provide mapping as a planning tool for any consultant," Phillips
said.

He noted his staff has met regularly with the PLPOA committee and
they have been kept informed of study developments.

He said a questionnaire was developed and circulated to a number
of personnel in other advisory entities, including county and town
staffers.

Summarizing responses, he said key issues seem to be water levels,
site drainage and regulations to meet the issues.

The consensus, he said, was that the main responsibility would be
that of PLPOA and PAWS.

Larry Lynch, PLPOA's property and environment manager, said
cooperative efforts of several agencies will be required to develop
an active water management plan.

In addition to the three agencies specified, he said, the golf
course operation and town of Pagosa Springs also might want to be
involved.

"I agree with Chris that we are at a point where we need to have
people preparing plans and achieving goals. We need to educate
officials at all levels about watershed protection needs."

Phillips said the area "hasn't had to face the impositions of
development yet, but now the issues are beginning to surface. We need
to plan now to avoid more costly projects in the future."

Director David Bohl, association treasurer, asked if anyone has
determined if there are federal grants available for this type of
project "to supplement whatever funding we (multiple agencies working
together) might supply?"

Phillips cited EPA Clean Water Act funding like that used on the
Lower Blanco restoration project and said "319 funding is worth
exploring."

Director Fred Ebeling warned the participants need to be wary of
definitions, such as identifying a site as a "wetland."

Phillips said wetland is defined legally and jurisdictionally in
applicable codes. "It is important for your staff who review building
permit applications to have documents showing where those wetlands
are."

Ebeling questioned who would be responsible for dredging if it was
determined necessary.

Cruse, board president, said his belief is that "dredging for
capacity would be PAWS' responsibility, but dredging to remove
sediment cutting off water flow for recreation or causing a health
problem could be everyone's problem."

And Lynch noted "these are private lakes used for recreation
purposes for a specific group; but they are also the area's primary
drinking water supply."

Bohl said there are number of lots in association subdivisions
that could be designated as wetlands and ponding areas, "sites which
we want to avoid having structures on because of waterflow
channeling."

Cruse directed Lynch and Phillips to put together a presentation
package on what they perceive as the goals of the study to take to
the other boards.

And, he directed Walt Lukasik, general manager, to begin working
to set up a workshop when the presentation package is ready, with
representatives of all three organizations.

That was the message Sept. 11 to the board of directors of Pagosa
Lakes Property Owners Association.

Walt Lukasik, general manager, said the recent heavy rains have
shown some minor leaks in the new roof that will be repaired.

The best news, he said, is that the project will come in about
$12,000 under the original contract figure of $407,784.

In addition to repairing the roof leaks, he said, the date for
redoing the epoxy surface on locker room floors was delayed until
this week. It should be completed today.

"I would like to commend Ming (Steen, center director), her staff,
and the contractor's workmen for keeping the center operating during
trying times," said Lukasik. "All did a fine job and our members were
well-served."

In a related action at the end of the meeting, the board approved
an administrative recommendation to name Jack Ellis as the new
chairman of the Recreation Center Committee.

PLPOA agrees continuation of
Dr. Mary Fisher pledge

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

It came nearly seven months after the normal due date, but the
board of directors of Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association has
approved its annual payment of a $5,000 pledge to Dr. Mary Fisher
Foundation.

The Sept. 11 vote to pay was a culmination of weeks of discussion
and review of what the board that made the original pledge intended
the money to be used for and it came on the heals of a presentation
by Bud Brasher and Bob Huff of the foundation board.

Brasher said it was obvious to all that there had been a lot of
confusion about the relationship between the foundation and Upper San
Juan Health Service District.

However, he said, the letter to the editor of The Pagosa Springs
SUN from Joe Donavan was an essentially correct summation of that
relationship.

He set the background for the pledge by briefly tracing the
history of the medical center, the foundation, the hospital district
and the health district.

In October, 1959, he said, Ray Macht and a group of citizens
formed the Mary Fisher Medical Center with hopes of retaining ongoing
medical care in the community.

"In 1991-92," he said, "they ran into financial trouble. In fact,
I don't know of a time when there wasn't some problem."

He said, "They had sold stock in the Mary Fisher Medical Center at
either $1 or $5 per share - stock which had and continues to have no
value - it was merely a receipt for donations and an indication of
right to vote at the organization's annual meeting."

He said the organization was reorganized again in 1996 into a
foundation because the board found it "didn't know how to run a
medical clinic."

The district floated a bond issue and received a deed to the
property where the clinic now stands, he said, "and simultaneously
transferred it to the then-Upper San Juan Hospital District."

He said the funds solicited and provided by PLPOA were advanced by
the foundation to complete the remodeling of the EMT building. "There
was never an attempt to tell the public there would be 24/7 service
other than EMT and ambulance," he said.

He read a paragraph from the foundation-PLPOA agreement indicating
it was based on 24/7 EMT-ambulance service with housing for the
personnel just 500 yards away.

The foundation was reorganized again in 1997 as a foundation for
the specific purpose of supporting the district so far as the clinic
was concerned.

The request for PLPOA funding, he said, "came to us through the
district. We have and will continue to stay out of the current
controversy."

He said the foundation has an annual audit review and files
required tax returns. The board meets quarterly on the second Tuesday
from the end of each calendar quarter in the Chamber of Commerce
board room, and encourages public attendance.

He noted two members of the health district board, by charter
mandate, are also members of the foundation board. They are Dick
Blide and Patty Tillerson.

Huff told the board the project funded in part by PLPOA's cash was
a capital improvement project, "as you have been told."

The board which approved the annual payment did so "on a handshake
agreement initially. The foundation had taken $50,000 of its own
endowment and put it into the building. The resulting PLPOA
commitment has been followed, until now."

The upshot "is we have the facility. We may not like the way it is
being used, but it is there and will be there."

PLPOA director Tom Cruse, board president, asked if the foundation
could guarantee "a call to 9-1-1 today would provide an ambulance and
EMTs."

"We can't," said Huff, "and I don't think that makes any
difference to our deal."

Brasher said the foundation, when founded, started with $150,000
that came from the town with its purchase of the old clinic building
and companion lots on East San Juan along the river.

"We had written offers on the table for more money," he said. "But
we sold to the town because it had given us the lots initially and
they were used through the years for clinic purposes."

Donavan, an association member and former vice president of the
board of directors, said the association didn't have $50,000 to
invest when it was initially approached to join in the funding.

"But we determined we could pledge that amount in total by making
it in portions of $5,000 per year over a 10-year period," he said.

"We concluded we wanted 24/7 ambulance and EMT service for our
members and that, as an association of those members, we could
justify being involved.

"We made a pledge so they could borrow the money," he said "and
they did.

"The full intent was to pay each year of the 10-year pledge."

In summary, said Cruse, "it appears a clear case has been made for
the fact the money was intended to provide support for the building
project and is not affected by the current crisis."

Director Bill Nobles said he feels it important "to honor an
obligation by a previous board."

With no other questions from the board or audience, Cruse called
for a motion to "lift from tabled status the motion to meet the
$5,000 obligation."

Motion received and approved, he entertained a motion to pay,
noting "we now have an accurate statement of what the money was and
is for."

With that, the directors voted unanimously to pay the pledge.

PLPOA denies bid to form health
services study panel

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

A request to create an ad hoc Pagosa Lakes
Property Owners Association committee to study health care and
emergency services, tabled last month for a more formal presentation,
was rejected Sept. 11.

Bobra Schaeper had made the request, saying
the services designated are issues "that affect the lives, health,
welfare and property values in this community."

She pointed out Article 1 of PLPOA bylaws
says the association " ... shall have as it purposes and goals and
objectives:

"(1) improve, protect and enhance the
quality of life and environment and preserve property values at
Pagosa Lakes; and

"(2) promote the general welfare of the
members of the association and inhabitants of the community
..."

"Surely," she said, "nothing could be more
important to our welfare and yes, our property values, than the
assurance of quality health care and emergency services."

She said the committee she proposed would be
a fact-finding group and function in an unbiased and nonpolitical
manner. "You can assure this with your oversight."

Suggested goals, she said, "would be current
status of these services; demographics of community as related to
health care and emergency services; similarity to other communities
and what solutions or problems they may face; availability of
financial help; and other goals as can best be determined by a team
working together in an organized fashion."

Director Tom Cruse, board president,
interrupted to note he had met recently with a group called PACK, a
private group, which has a subcommittee with a similar charge.

PACK, he said, is not an acronym, and it is
not a political action committee in any sense.

"It is an unbiased group of Republican,
Democratic and unaffiliated registered voters," said Gene Cortright
of Lake Forest Estates, after being recognized by Cruse.

He said all members are registered voters,
the group has no officers and no treasury.

"The objective," he said, "is to identify
and support candidates for county office in each of the
parties."

Because of the confusion over USJHSD, he
said, "we have formed a group to determine chronology of how our
health service got to where and what it is today.

"We will collect facts and at some point
come to some conclusion and make a recommendation," he said.

Schaeper said what she proposed would be a
factual collection but not call for political action.

Director Fred Ebeling argued he failed "to
see what the work of the proposed committee would achieve."

And director David Bohl said he didn't think
"this board should appoint any committee to investigate the
operations of a taxing body."

Cruse said he understood she was talking
about "raw material information, not about trying to even sides or
resolve issues ... not to become involved in current
controversy."

Ebeling insisted the data to be collected
already are available from many sources while Schaeper argued. "We'd
collect facts, not opinions."

Dick Babillis, former health district board
president, said he has been working with Mercy Medical Center in
Durango on statistics on their services to Archuleta County people,
and would be willing to share that data.

Ebeling moved to deny the request to form
the committee and got a second from Bohl.

Before the vote could be called, director
Bill Nobles said, "it sounds like we're trying to educate the public
about health services and options and I think that as a property
owners association we want to do that."

Director Hugh Bundy said statistics and
people change very quickly. "I have a feeling that by the time we see
the results the facts may have changed."

The board voted 4-2 to deny creation of the
committee.

Piñon Causeway,
Talisman, Village drives to undergo facelifts

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

Following action Tuesday by the Archuleta County Board of
Commissioners, the county and the town of Pagosa Springs are set to
begin a joint effort to reconstruct portions of Village Drive,
Piñon Causeway and Talisman Drive.

After receiving word for a final go-ahead last week from Mark
Garcia, town manager, the board approved both an agreement for paving
services with Strohecker Paving & Asphalt Inc. and a subsequent
notice to proceed with the project.

According to the notice to proceed, work is scheduled to begin no
later than Sept. 25, meaning residents living along the trio of roads
could encounter work crews before the end of next week.

The agreement reached between the county and Strohecker lists the
costs for road surface reconstruction and associated supplemental
work at $184,434.

As stipulated in an intergovernmental agreement reached between
the town and county earlier this year, the costs of the project -
which amount to roughly $200,000 - will be shared equally by the two
entities.

The agreement states preparatory engineering work and construction
management for improvements to the thoroughfares are scheduled to be
performed by Davis Engineering Services Inc.

In addition, the town will be expected to annex the roadways
shortly after the project's completion and assume all future
responsibilities regarding their maintenance, repairs, easements,
improvements and rights-of-way.

The agreement also states the "county shall provide construction
supervision" during the improvement effort while also serving as the
project administrator.

Designated for improvements are the portion of Village Drive from
Talisman Drive to Piñon Causeway and the stretch of
Piñon Causeway from Village Drive to the intersection with
U.S. 160.

Also targeted will be portions of Talisman Drive extending a short
distance north and south of its intersection with Village Drive.

These are the recreation elements included
in a master plan for the Pagosa Springs Sports Complex - currently a
field of dirt - located between 5th Street and the San Juan River
across from Golden Peaks Stadium. The plan was created by EDAW Civil
Design Team, of Denver, for the town of Pagosa Springs, owners of the
15.5 acres.

Starting with the southern boundary which
adjoins the sanitation district, the master plan shows an access road
already in existence will be improved to accommodate a loading lane
and changing facility for rafters and kayakers using the
river.

The "ballfield center" will be located on
the southwest corner. This will feature a building for storage,
maintenance, a concession stand and restrooms, tables, benches, a
plaza, concrete bleachers for viewing games and dugouts. Warmup areas
will flank both sides of the field.

The combination softball/baseball field will
extend out from that corner. In order to provide maximum flexibility
for variety uses and age groups, the ballfield will be lighted, with
a 300-foot outfield fence. The fencing will be removable to
accommodate softball, baseball or T-ball. Removing the fencing will
also create a large lawn space for events like "Ride the Rockies,"
concerts or a fourth youth soccer field.

Continuing east, visitors will encounter a
walking path that will encircle the entire park area and an existing
wetland mitigation project.

A playground and picnic center will be
located in about the middle of the property, bisecting the ballfield
and soccer field areas. This area features a shelter, tables,
benches, a plaza, playground, and a performance plaza/water feature
that doubles as an outdoor classroom.

According to the plan, "a shrub and
perennial bed, entry and sign wall, and ornamental trees create a
focal point and greet visitors as they enter from the nearby parking
or drop-off areas." A small water feature will lead into a dry creek
bed covered in river rock. This addition to the original concepts
will carry some of the site's stormwater into the river and provide a
strong visual link between the park and the river. The water feature
will double as a performance plaza and outdoor classroom when turned
off. Informal seating for this site is provided through a small
sloped lawn.

The northern half of the site will be large
enough to contain a regulation-size high school soccer field, or
three youth soccer fields, depending on size. Along the river, plans
include areas for picnicking sites, a riverfront plaza and a wetlands
overlook.

Parking is a combination of on street along
5th Street and parking lots across 5th Street from the field on
Pagosa Springs High School property. Parking spaces will total 308 at
complete build out.

To protect pedestrians, the plans call for
crosswalks placed at key access points and traffic calming measures
such as curb bump outs and special crosswalk paving.

Potential future uses include an ice rink,
skate park, tennis courts, administration and a bus center. These
were uses not listed in the original recreation survey, but came up
in a series of public meetings held on the sports complex plan in
January and March. Some of these, listed on the original two concepts
for the site presented in March, were dropped because of "spatial
constraints and incompatibility with other uses."

Parks and Recreation Director Joe Lister Jr.
said the focus of the design was based on a parks and recreation
survey completed in 2000 and the realities of local youth sports.
Between 250 and 300 youth participate in baseball and soccer each
year. Available space is at its max and games for the younger
children must sometimes be played late at night. These fields are
expected to alleviate some of that stress.

Full build out on the master plan may take
five years or more. It is planned to be completed in phases, with the
soccer field, baseball/softball field, the river loading and
unloading road and some landscaping and parking to be included in the
first phase.

Funding is the next, and possibly greatest
hurdle. A total of $30,000 was budgeted by the Pagosa Springs Board
of Trustees for planning the project in 2002 and 2003. The money to
turn plans into reality must still be found. Sources will most likely
be grants, private donations and possibly the town's capital
improvement fund, depending on future sales tax revenues.

Lister said a $200,000 Great Outdoors
Colorado grant application has already been completed. Word on
whether or not they will receive those monies is expected to come in
December. Another grant cycle comes in January.

Durango police eye
possible

Pagosa link in puppy
theft

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

A Durango police detective is searching for
a real live Cruella De Ville.

Maybe two.

Detective Rita Warfield said two females,
possibly in their late teens, are being sought in connection with the
theft of two puppies during an Aug. 11 burglary at the La Plata
County Humane Society.

Both puppies, Brandy and Candy, shepherd
mixes, were recovered at the Pagosa Springs Humane Society Aug. 28.
They are back in Durango, safe and sound, but the search for their
abductors continues.

Warfield said the two suspects, and a third
girl possibly involved, were photographed by surveillance cameras
while visiting the La Plata County Humane Society during operating
hours the day of the burglary. The girls had apparently spent some
time at the puppies' cage and asked questions about them.

They were told the puppies were not yet
available for adoption. According to the shelter's policy, the
puppies were to be held for seven days to make sure they were
healthy.

Between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Aug. 11, Warfield
said, burglars broke a window, entered the shelter and stole the
puppies.

A few weeks later, a volunteer at the La
Plata County Humane Society was looking at animals available on the
Pagosa Springs Humane Society Web site and spotted the two pups in a
picture.

The Durango Police Department asks anyone
with information regarding this case to call Warfield at 385-2934 or
Crimestoppers at 247-1112. Rewards have been offered.

Report: Most county
bridges

sufficient, all safe 3-5 years

attack

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

A biennial update given this week to
Archuleta County commissioners by Denver-based engineer Jim Inglis
indicates most of the larger bridges maintained by the county are in
good shape.

Inglis is employed by Range Engineering, one
of several private firms contracted by the Colorado Department of
Transportation to perform detailed bridge inspections every two
years.

Inglis explained Tuesday that his firm uses
standards set forth by CDOT while establishing bridge maintenance
models, then "looks for things that deteriorate ahead of the model"
when assigning a bridge what is referred to as a "sufficiency
rating."

Sufficiency ratings range, conceivably, from
1 to 100 for bridges still in service, though Inglis explained there
is no direct correlation between a low sufficiency rating and a
bridge's potential for failure.

Instead, said Inglis, sufficiency ratings
outline the need for repairs which, if neglected for too long, could
eventually result in major damage. A higher rating indicates a lesser
need for repair, and vice versa.

During a lengthy report of his findings,
Inglis told the commissioners of 19 county bridges qualifying for
inspection - those spanning at least 20 feet - eight have a
sufficiency rating of over 80.

In addition, three had sufficiency ratings
between 50-80 percent, said Inglis, and eight have a sufficiency
rating of less than 50.

Following his presentation, "In summary, you
have a good collection of bridges and you've been proactive in your
maintenance approach, but you still have some needs," Inglis told the
board.

Topping the list of structures with the
highest sufficiency ratings are:

- the bridge over Cat Creek on County Road
700, with a sufficiency rating of 100

- the bridge over the Navajo River on County
Road 359, with a sufficiency rating of 99.9

- the bridge over the San Juan River on
County Road 500, with a sufficiency rating of 99.7.

Bridges scoring the three lowest sufficiency
ratings are:

- the bridge over the Piedra River on Navajo
Road, with a sufficiency rating of 16.3

- the bridge over the Rio Blanco on
County Road 337, with a sufficiency rating of 21.7

- the bridge over the San Juan River on
County Road 557, with a sufficiency rating of 29.6.

Included in reports given Sue Walan, county
engineer, and Dick McKee, county public works director, are
maintenance recommendations from Inglis, as well as a list of
priorities outlining the scope of work he feels should be done
first.

"We're certainly going to follow those
recommendations," said Walan, adding that Rich Vick, an engineer from
ConStruct Engineering of Durango, will tour county bridges with her
and McKee next week in order to begin the planning process.

However, said Walan, none of the bridges
covered in Inglis' summary pose an immediate threat to public
safety.

Reiterating a point made clear by Inglis
during his presentation, "Even the bridges that have the absolute
lowest ratings are probably safe for at least the next three to five
years," concluded Walan.

Hometown girl one of three new
junior high teachers

By Frank Schiro

Special to The SUN

What do an environmental biologist, a
hydrologist and a Texas football coach have in common?

All of them believe Pagosa Springs is a
terrific place to live and an even better place to help mold young
lives through teaching.

Emily Neder, J.D. Kurz and Owen Garrison
have all joined the Pagosa Springs Junior High teaching corps this
fall.

For Neder, joining the junior high staff is
actually more of a homecoming.

"I was always looking for something I could
do where I could come back to Pagosa. I grew up in Pagosa Springs and
my family still lives here. Now I'm teaching where my high school
was," Neder said.

Neder never ventured too far from home. She
graduated from the University of Colorado with degrees in
environmental biology and psychology. Right out of college she taught
preschool science for two years in Boulder. After that, she spent a
year at Denver University Law School starting an environmental law
degree.

But, the lure of coming home to Pagosa
Springs was just too strong.

Neder is now running the computer science
lab part-time at the junior high. She also sponsors the Wednesday
afternoon, science club "Wiz Kids" and works Friday afternoons at the
Adult Education Center, teaching computer classes. Although this is
Neder's first season in teaching, she is adjusting quickly to her new
role.

"I was really intimidated when I started,
but now I'm having a great time. I'm learning to handle the dynamics
of a classroom and sometimes the kids are so good at computers I feel
like I'm learning as much as I'm teaching," Neder shared.

Neder uses posters from computer-generated
movies to relate to the kids. She is excited about helping them see
that besides being fun and cool, there are a number ways to apply
computers to life and a number of careers where they are used.

Kurz, another newcomer, didn't grow up here,
but it took him a very short time to decide this is where he wanted
to settle down.

"I moved here the day after graduation. I
graduated on Saturday and got here late on a Sunday. The street signs
were so dark, I had to use a flashlight to find the street I was
going to live on. I just wanted to live in a small mountain town,"
Kurz explained.

He graduated from Colorado State University
in Fort Collins, with a bachelor's of science in watershed science.
He has been in Pagosa Springs for four years and worked during that
time for a local hydrologist.

During that time, Kurz started helping coach
cross-county and track at Pagosa Springs High School.

"That's when I realized I enjoyed working
with kids and decided it made sense to do something to help kids
rather than just helping fish," Kurz said.

Kurz brings a vast amount of experience and
knowledge to his eighth-grade earth science classes. By working in
the field after graduating, he can effectively explain how the theory
relates to the real world.

"I really enjoy it when the kids understand
the concepts. You can see the light go on and that they're really
thinking; they come up with great questions. Some kids really make
applications to life and are good at explaining the world around
them," Kurz said with a prideful smile.

This fall's third new teacher, Owen
Garrison, and his wife, Sharon, took a little longer than the other
two to make Pagosa Springs their permanent residence. Texas was home
for most of Garrison's life. He went to high school in Dallas and
went to Texas A & M for college, where he played football.
However, making the move to Pagosa Springs was always on their
mind.

"We kept saying we want to move up here.
We'd come skiing in the winter and camping and fishing in the summer.
Finally this summer we decided to do it and make the move to live
here," Garrison said.

Garrison worked in the Garland Independent
School District outside of Dallas, Texas, for the last 13 years.
There, he taught physical education and health and was the head coach
of a 5A football program. Garrison has been teaching and coaching for
a total of 34 years.

At Pagosa Springs Junior High, Garrison will
be teaching two physical education classes and helping with the
football program primarily as an offensive and defensive line coach.
So far things seem to be working out as planned.

"Everything is great. Everybody has been
very nice and the kids are starting to accept me. The coaching staff
that is here are all great guys and we are all working to see if we
can mold and direct these young men," Garrison said.

The coaching strategy appears to be working.
The junior high football team has won their first two games.

Garrison shares a key to continued success
that the other two new teachers would likely echo.

"Parents here are really involved. One of
the most important things in life is getting support from family in
whatever you're doing," Garrison said.

San Juan heads list of fall
fishing hotspots

By Tom Carosello

Staff Writer

Monsoon season in the Four Corners region is
all but over, and water clarity in Pagosa Country streams and rivers
is improving daily.

The results are increased catch rates for
anglers willing to endure hit-or-miss conditions as flows stabilize
and fish continue to adjust to lower water temperatures.

For those not willing to risk the chance of
an early-season snowstorm or lacking the time to venture into the
high country, the easily-accessible San Juan River may be just the
ticket.

Increased flows and the combined stocking
efforts of local merchants and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are
paying off with good catches of rainbow, brown and cutbow hybrids all
along the public stretch of water through downtown Pagosa Springs.

The Piedra River, Williams Creek and East
Fork of the San Juan are also fishing well according to local
guides.

Warm-water reservoir fishing conditions are
currently spotty, but feeding patterns should stabilize in the next
two weeks. With the fall spawn approaching, action should pick up at
inlet-fed, cold-water reservoirs harboring populations of brook and
brown trout.

The following is a breakdown of conditions
at some regional fishing hotspots:

- Navajo Reservoir - Surface level is listed
at an elevation of 6,000 feet and steady. Four-wheel drive vehicles
are recommended for boat launching at Navajo State Park. Water
temperature is in the 60s. Catfish are being taken during the night
on blood/stink baits. Fishing for smallmouths, largemouths crappie
and northern pike is reported as fair.

- San Juan River (through town) - Flows are
currently averaging about 180 cubic feet per second and falling.
River is nearly clear and successful anglers are using spinners,
streamers, salmon eggs and flies for rainbows, cutbows and
browns.

- Echo Lake - Lake is clear and up a few
inches due to runoff. Fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, small
sunfish and perch is fair. Live bait, ultralight jigs and small
plastics are the favored baits. A few anglers are catching catfish
after dark using nightcrawlers. Trout are becoming more active and
are taking flies, Mepps/ Panther Martin spinners and
streamers.

- Big Meadows Reservoir - Water is off color
and fishing is fair. Brook trout are still the predominant catch and
are hitting PowerBait, flies, and spinners.

- East Fork of San Juan - Flows are low and
clear. Fishing for pan-sized rainbows and browns through the isolated
stretches is reportedly fair.

- Piedra River - Water is clearing and
fishing is good to great. Browns and rainbows are the predominant
catch and are hitting flies, streamers and flashy spinners.

- Middle Fork, Piedra River - Extremely low
flows unless affected by rainfall. Fishing is still slow, with small
browns and rainbows occasionally being taken on flies and small jigs
and spinners.

- Fourmile Creek - Clearing daily, and
brookies and cutthroats are taking attractor-pattern flies and
lightweight spinners in the upper sections and beaver ponds. A few
rainbows and browns are being caught in the lower portion.

- Williams Creek - Clarity is good and flies
and small spinners are working near the dam for brookies, cutthroats,
browns and rainbows when the water clears. Browns and rainbows are
the main catch farther downstream.

Woman's West Nile Disease test
inconclusive; second horse dies

By Richard Walter

Staff Writer

"It has not been confirmed. That does not
mean it was not a case of West Nile Virus, but it will not be
counted."

That was the comment of Joe Fowler, an
epidemiologist for San Juan Basin Health Department concerning tests
on a Pagosa Springs woman whose doctor thought she had been
infected.

The unidentified woman had reported the
infection and the story ran last week in The SUN.

Fowler said results were
inconclusive.

Meanwhile, the department reported two new
human cases in the Four Corners area and locally, another horse was
reported dead from the disease.

One victim was a 44-year-old Bayfield woman
now at home recovering. The other was a 50-year-old Montezuma County
woman. To date, said the department's Danni Lorrigan, there have been
12 confirmed cases in La Plata County, nine of them county
residents.

"Although West Nile season is winding down,
it isn't over yet," said Fowler. "We could continue to see cases into
October and so people should keep taking precautions against mosquito
bites."

These precautions include limiting outdoor
activities during dawn and dusk hours, using insect repellent
containing the chemical DEET in concentrations between 10 and 30
percent, and wearing long sleeves and long pants when
outdoors.

Meanwhile, a second horse has died in
Archuleta County from the disease.

Dr. Kerry Hoobler-Riek of San Juan
Veterinary Clinic said the animal died late last week.

Without naming the owner, she said it was
stabled in Pagosa Springs, south of U.S. 160.

It was one of "six or seven positive tests
we've received after the first death two weeks ago," she said.

All the other animals, she said, are
recovering.

Humans who become ill usually exhibit
symptoms 5-15 days after becoming infected. They may include fever,
headache, body aches and occasionally skin rashes and swollen lymph
nodes.

Vaccinations and booster shots are available
from veterinarians to protect horses against the life-threatening
illness resulting from the disease.

No such safeguards are available for
humans.

Bayfield Chamber slates its
first golf tournament

The Bayfield Area Chamber of Commerce is
hosting a golf tournament 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillcrest Golf Club in
Durango.

The tournament is a four-person scramble
format.

The cost is $39 per person for Hillcrest
members and $64 for nonmembers.

Entry includes a burger and beverage at the
end of the round.

The tournament is limited to the first 15
teams that enter, and prizes will be awarded for closest-to-the-pin
shots on par 3 holes. There will be prize money for the top four
teams.

Golfers can register for the tournament by
calling Hillcrest at 247-1499 and asking to be in the Bayfield
Chamber Scramble.

The tournament will benefit the chamber's
building fund.

For more information, call John Mankins at
884-9566.

All-Americans

Nine Pagosa Springs High School cheerleaders
were nominated at summer camp in Durango for All-American tryouts.
All competed and two were selected for the team, comprised from
winners across the nation, who will make appearances this school year
in Florida, California and Dallas, the first in December in Florida.
Each has to raise her own fare for the trips but will perform on
arrival with some of the finest cheer team athletes in the nation.
The two selected are freshman Berkley Ruthardt and sophomore Linda
Johnson. The nominees were: Carmen Cook, Ashley Maddox, Kelsie Mastin
and Rebecca Williams, Amanda Kovacic, Randye Taylor and Keyton
Nash-Putnam. Coach Renee Davis said the final choices were very close
and each Pagosa contender "can be proud of being a nominee."

Letters

Disses Dems

Dear Editor:

Now that even local politics are beginning to heat up, I thought
it would be a good thing to inform the public what it takes to be a
good Democrat.

You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of
federal funding. You have to believe the same teacher who can't teach
fourth-graders to read is qualified to teach them sex education. That
guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than
U.S. nuclear technology in the hands of the Chinese and North Korean
Communists. That art didn't exist before federal funding.

You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being
homosexual is natural. You have to be against capital punishment, but
support abortion on demand. You have to believe that businesses
create oppression and governments create prosperity. You have to
believe hunters don't care about nature, but radical activists who
have never been outside of San Francisco do.

You have to believe that the N.R.A. is bad because it supports
certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it
supports certain parts of the Constitution. You have to believe that
ATM charges are too high but taxes are too low. You have to believe
that standardized tests are racist, but race quotas are not. You have
to believe that conservatives who tell the truth should be in prison,
but a liar and sex offender belongs in the White House.

You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag,
transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected,
but a manger scene at Christmas should be illegal. You have to
believe that illegal Democratic Party funding from the Chinese is
okay but funding conservative organizations like the N.R.A. should be
stopped.

You have to believe the only reason socialism hasn't worked
anywhere else in the world is because the right Clintonista's haven't
been in charge. You have to believe that Americans are not
intelligent enough to know what's best for our families, our
businesses and our country.

Let's tell it straight, shall we? The radical Democrats were the
pro-slavery bunch before the 1860s. Since the 1960s their agenda
remains the same. To the Dems running for office may we all say,
"Give me liberty or give me death!"

William Bennett

ACLU a cancer

Dear Editor:

The ACLU controls the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California
so that there is no justice in that state. Unfortunately, what
happens in California infects the whole country.

The recall vote was blocked because there are still some chad
machines that should have been replaced in the last three years. But
Graywater Davis and his cronies didn't want to. Since these counties
would not get their things together, they deserve to be left behind
or use the voting machines they have.

Did the 9th Circuit outlaw those machines so they can't be used?
They should have been replaced first.

After Florida, if there's somebody who can't figure out how to
vote, then these types don't know enough to vote. They don't know who
or what they're voting for anyway.

The ACLU says it's illegal to discriminate against people who they
think don't know how to vote. Likewise, they're saying that people
who live in America who do most things right most of the time should
be discriminated against. They're also saying that their "own people"
so-called Latinos (actually impoverished pawns) are too stupid to
figure out how to vote until the ACLU can tell them who and what to
vote for so as to weaken America further.

Mr. Graywater doesn't want to fix California's $38 billion debt
either, because he knows that the feds, which means the rest of
America, will bail him out.

If it weren't for the American system the ACLU would have nowhere
to stand and if it weren't for the ACLU there'd be equal justice and
freedom for all.

The ACLU is a cancer that is bringing America down to a level
where it can be sued at whim. This organization should be given
what's left of California to run its experiments upon and it should
be expelled from all other states and territories.

As soon as California became the ACLU's own country the
experiments would stop, wouldn't they? They'd use America as the best
example to put value back into that state.

Absolutely,

John Feazel

Salute Pagosa

Dear Editor:

Jim, Casey and I cannot express the depth of our gratitude to all
of our wonderful friends and family in Pagosa. We have been able to
concentrate solely on Casey and not give a second thought about our
home or pets.

We have known how other families have been supported by our great
community but had no idea how loving and generous it truly is. Your
prayers, cards and thoughts have gotten us through each day.

Casey continues to greatly improve, surprising us and medical
staff alike. We cannot wait to bring him home!

Your fund-raising efforts are phenomenal and greatly appreciated.
All funds not needed for Casey's medical expenses will be donated in
his name to the Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House
which have done so much for us.

Again, thank you all. We love you and miss you.

Denise, Jim and Casey Mudroch

Vexatious deeds

Dear Editor:

After stumbling through that fearful terrorist labyrinth in the
leadoff letter in the SUN of Sept. 11, I assume the "Nattering
Nabob's of Negativity" (liberal Democrats) are equipped to wager that
Howard Dean will carry the banner in 2004.

I sincerely hope that they will prevail in getting him the
convention nomination. It will be an absolute delight watching those
"Bushees" pulverize his attempt at the presidency.

Suggestion: The table odds are infinitely higher that Al Sharpton
would give the "Demon Crats" more possibilities at their liberal
craps table.

Don't get too excited folks, but I'm turnin' over a new aroma. The
Nabobs have won over this Dysfunctional Polish Dimwit. Professor Bob
"Arboles" Dungan currently has this Crayola under refinement at his
infamous Islammabubba Coloring Book Academy of Fine Old Arts. I'm now
coloring in a no-win situation.

But I digress. So let's just sling a few vexatious cowpie kudos in
that direction commemorating some rather sullen liberal achievements
of the past.

Since I might be placed in the senior citizen category, let's
focus on a few issues that directly affect this group and should be
remembered in November 2004 when venturing into that voting booth.

Because many of us seniors have paid into FICA for years and are
now receiving a Social Security check every month and are finding
that we are being taxed on 85-percent of the money we paid to the
federal government to put away, others may be interested in the
following:

Cowpie Kudo No. 1: To President Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic
controlled House and Senate who took Social Security from an
independent fund and put it in the general fund so Congress could
spend it.

Cowpie Kudo No. 2: To the Democratic Party for placing a tax on
Social Security. But it is kinda sweet that liberals pretend to care
about Social Security.

Cowpie Kudo No. 3: To Al Gore for casting the deciding vote, and
his liberal Democratic Party, for increasing the tax on Social
Security.

Cowpie Kudo No. 4: to the Democratic Party for deciding to give
money to immigrants. That's right, immigrants moved into this country
and at 65 got SSI Social Security. The Democratic Party gave that to
them although they never paid a dime into it. Then, after doing all
this, the Democrats turn around and tell you the Republicans want to
take your Social Security. And the worst part about it is people
believe it.

In conclusion: Yes, the Democrats do need an exit strategy for
Iraq - to have a chance at winning the White House in 2004.

That's just the way the big rodeo arena is planted out here in the
Old West - near Arboles.

Jim Sawicki

Bad experience

Dear Editor:

We were attracted to Pagosa Springs for its setting, scenery and
especially, the quality of people we have met here. We have lived in
many parts of the country and have found the people and business
owners of Pagosa Springs more friendly, helpful and honorable than
most anywhere we have lived.

Unfortunately we had our first negative experience in a private
purchase wherein an individual, who is also a local businessman, was
less than straight forward and honorable. In fact, the final
communication was personally quite insulting.

We sincerely hope this behavior, more reminiscent of the East
Coast, does not permeate into other local Pagosa Springs people and
businesses.

Jim Thatcher

Read Newsletter

Dear Editor:

I hope the folks throughout our three-county area will take time
to read the Newsletter published in last week's SUN, which will also
be mailed to all taxpayers.

Members of the board end employees contributed to this effort of
the Citizens Advisory Committee to provide you with a record of past
history and present activities of your Upper San Juan Health District
services. Two of our seven board members refused to contribute.

The recent personal attacks against members of this board and our
employees as correctly reported in the SUN bring me cause to once
again write to you, my friends, and I will make this brief, as
always.

In addition to the recent public display, there also are ongoing
behind the scenes activities to damage and even cripple our emergency
services.

This first Newsletter is lengthy, as we believed it necessary to
provide as much true background as possible for your information. The
future ones, which will be sent out quarterly, will provide updates
on activities and I hope you will find them helpful.

This board of directors will continue to protect all of our
employees who are interested only in providing quality care to you -
we will deal with the politics as best we can while working
diligently to expand quality health care access to you.

Many small, rural communities would love to have the security
provided by our EMS folks; for most, it is minimal or completely
absent.

Sincerely,

Patty Tillerson

Needed project

Dear Editor:

As one involved over the last year or so with the health care
issue it is wonderful to report a positive side to the events. I
believe something historic in the annals of county medicine is
happening and I want everyone to know about it.

Susan Kuhns announced a couple of weeks ago, she will be opening a
new medical clinic with a focus on woman's health care issues. This
clinic, Pagosa Woman's Health and Wellness, will be located in the
small log cabin on Pike Drive a half block north from Pizza Hut.

Susan, along with nurse Ruth Vance and businessperson Terry
Sellers were part of the Dr. Mary Fisher Clinic staff who recently
found themselves out of work. Susan, mustering courage and vision,
decided to open her own clinic and ask Ruth and Terry to join her.

The real story here is how they are doing it. The building needed
work and the practice is starting from scratch. These ladies have dug
down deep, rolled up their sleeves and are doing most of the work
themselves. It is altogether inspiring to walk into the future clinic
and see three women ripping out flooring, pulling down walls, masking
off for painting, and doing what has to be done. Susan is acting as
her own contractor arranging for the jobs they cannot do.

Along with manual labor there is also planning. As decades old
layers come off, possibilities of new colors, textures and space are
realized. New lights, new carpet, and everything will be spotlessly
clean, everywhere, all the time.

Away from the building Terry is working out the business
requirements and Ruth is ordering supplies and sewing their own
fabric needs. Susan has gone from quiet family practitioner to small
business tycoon juggling incorporation, multiple meetings, and the
mysteries of the musical cell phone.

These women are going to make it. Support from area women has been
very gratifying and enthusiasm for the project runs high. They are
doing something positive and developing a practice that is needed and
desirable in our community.

They welcome you to stop by and say, "Hi," but be forewarned:
Their excitement and enthusiasm is contagious and you may end up with
a paint brush in your hand.

While no longer connected with the Mary Fisher Clinic, Susan is
certainly following in the footsteps of that grand lady. She is a
certified nurse practitioner. Mary Winter Fisher was a doctor of
homeopathy and they both exemplify the spirit of "doing it my way."

If Mary is smiling down on anyplace in Pagosa Country, it is on
that little cabin on Pike Drive.

Norm Vance

Animals blessed

Dear Editor:

An old song pleads, "Bless the beasts and the children, for in
this world they have no voice, have no choice."

Well, in Pagosa Springs the animals truly have been blessed. Our
Humane Society has for many years been noted for its dedication to
making the lives of homeless, helpless companion animals safer and
more secure.

From Robbie Schwartz, executive director, who tirelessly oversees
all facets of its activities to Dan Pickins, shelter manager, and his
hard-working, compassionate staff, to the employees of the Thrift
Shop sorting, pricing, selling articles donated, to the board of
directors and finally the volunteers who provide services above and
beyond - these folks are true blessings to the animals in our
community.

Everyone who has ever loved and been loved by an animal companion
owes the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs and those who comprise it a
heartfelt "thank you."

Joyce Webb

Opposes use tax

Dear Editor:

The Archuleta County commissioners and the Pagosa Springs town
council appear to be gleefully anticipating the $1.085 million they
expect to receive if the 4-percent use tax ballot issues are approved
by voters.

If they have clear and specific needs for these funds, they are
not telling us what they are. The vague ideas are that money will be
used for roads, bridges, parks, trails and recreation.

The town board decided to drop the wording "for the benefit of the
citizens of Pagosa Springs," because it was perceived as restrictive.

These taxing entities are concerned that local citizens are
depriving them of sales taxes by purchasing items outside Archuleta
County. However, free people making choices and taking actions in
their own interests are depriving no one. Government is the aggressor
here, not the citizens.

I am wondering if these governing bodies of Archuleta County need
a review of "Economics 101" and the Law of Unintended Consequences?

Higher taxes produce higher prices, and decrease products and
services - always! If you have to pay the county 4 percent in extra
taxes after the aging, ancient family sedan or truck finally gives up
the ghost, necessitating the purchase of a new vehicle which is
unavailable here, you have 4 percent less to spend locally for
carpet, paint, hardware, clothing and local services.

Do you really think local building supplies are going to sell for
4 percent less than those outside the county? Do you think oil and
gas suppliers will somehow not pass the 4 percent on to their
customers? Ask yourself who will benefit from these proposed "use"
taxes.

It gets worse. A recent headline in the Pagosa SUN reports: "Nov.
4 general election will be by mail ballot only." Apparently if you
didn't vote in the 2002 general election, and didn't return your
continuation post card, you may not receive a ballot.

Why did we allow a law stating that voting in the last election
determines whether you are a registered voter or not? Nevertheless,
you have until Oct. 6 to call the county clerk to confirm your voter
registration if you want to vote on these ballot issues.

I consider the use of tax issues and the accompanying mail ballot
issues a wake-up call to the citizens of Pagosa Springs and all of
Archuleta County to inform themselves about the shenanigans of our
elected officials and make their voices heard.

Sara J. Wilson

Inexcusable

Dear Editor:

As one of the attendees at the League of Women Voters health
district informational forum last week, I feel compelled to clarify a
couple of points made in The SUN's coverage of the evening.

I am not a member of the league, but I am a grateful admirer of
the citizen and voter education services they provide to our
community. Last week's forum was no exception.

For the chairman of our tax-supported health district board to
have refused to participate in such a perfect opportunity to address
the public directly in this informational format was inexcusable. To
have spent district tax dollars to run false radio ads placing the
blame for his nonparticipation on the league was reprehensible.

We district taxpayers can only wonder how much we paid for his
radio ads - and how much did we pay for the board's recent
self-serving two-page ad in the paper? Wouldn't it have made more
sense for him to have just participated in the league's forum?

Fortunately, I'm not the only citizen in the community who
appreciates what the league does in the way of educating our
citizens, and who was appalled at the radio ads personally attacking
the league's president that day.

One attendee at the forum, who wishes to remain anonymous, was so
incensed at the health district board chairman's refusal to
participate in the forum, while spending district funds to run radio
ads instead, that she pledged $1,000 in matching funds to the league
to enable it to acquire office space and part-time support staff in
Pagosa Springs.

I wish the league all the best in its efforts to raise matching
funds to accompany that very generous donation.

Finally, I just wanted to mention that, contrary to the report in
the newspaper, the audience for the forum was considerably more than
30. Two of us counted just over 70 in the audience. Additionally, I
was told by the treasurer of the league, Tom Cruse, that the League
received more than 40 feedback comment cards from the audience that
night.

Every one of those individuals obviously considered this topic to
be important enough to brave torrential rains that evening to become
more informed on our community's health care situation.

Thank you, League of Women Votes of Archuleta County. Keep up the
good work.

Joan Young

Community
News

Senior News

Several guest speakers due this
week

By Laura Bedard

SUN Columnist

We have a lot of interesting talks scheduled this week at the
Silver Foxes Den.

At 12:45 p.m. Monday, Glen Raby will come to talk about volcanoes.
This should be a fascinating talk since we live in an active area, as
evidenced by our hot springs.

Darcy Christenson will lead a guided meditation called Peace and
Health Through Meditation at 12:45 p.m. Sept. 23 in the lounge. This
should be a relaxing experience, so wear comfortable clothing.

Nathan Trout, a local physical therapist, will speak at 12:45 p.m.
Sept. 24 about fall prevention and physical therapy.

Please note there will be no yoga class Sept. 23.

Is anyone interested in volunteering to teach art classes to our
seniors? If so, give us a call at the center, 264-2167.

We are starting to ask people to bake cookies for our Oktoberfest
coming up next month. Any kind are welcome, as long as they are
tasty. There are many other positions you can volunteer for as well.
Call the number above to sign up for cookie baking.

Also, be aware that our next line dancing class will be at 1 p.m.
Sept. 24 in the gym. Be sure to bring socks and a sweater; it might
be cool in the gym.

Stop the calls

The Federal Trade Commission telemarketing sales rule gives
consumers the power to stop unwanted telemarketing calls and gives
state law enforcement officers the authority to prosecute fraudulent
telemarketers who operate across state lines.

To put your phone number on the list, go to the Web site at
www.ftc.gov, go to hot topics and click on National Do Not Call
Registry. If you don't have a computer, call the center and we will
do it for you.

Protect yourself

You can learn how to protect yourself from West Nile Virus by
viewing a video we have at the senior center. This was produced by
the Centers for Disease Control, and cannot be checked out, but you
can watch it in the lounge. I know one way to prevent West Nile Virus
is to pray for snow.

Visitors and guests

I have been told that I sometimes misspell people's names or say
someone is new when they have been here before, so please forgive my
errors. We still enjoy seeing you even if we can't always get your
name right.

Hopefully, I am correct in saying Marietta and Howard Adams
visited us this week, as well as Linda Bundy and Lee Daniledes. We
were also pleased to see Phil and Nita Heitz back to see us for three
weeks. Mary Gurule and Carol Tindell also came back for a visit with
friends. It was good to see them all.

It's here - Colorfest has arrived and you
need to head down to the Visitor Center post haste and purchase your
tickets before 5 p.m. so you'll still get the great price of $25
instead of the $30 you will pay at the door.

You can count on getting a big bang for your
bucks with all the goodies that will be provided to you from
5:30-7:30 Friday evening.

Actually, it will be worth the price of
admission just to see what the Evil Twin, Ms. Johann, has created for
the two of us to wear that evening. Tradition has it that I never see
the particular ensemble until shortly before the affair begins, and
let me tell you that I have worn a few things that would curl your
hair. You must join us on Friday to see what the little devil has
created for an event that truly invites insane costumes. We invite
you to be as creative and colorful as you wish to blend in with the
theme and decorations.

The fun begins, rain or shine, under the big
tent Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center parking lot.

Doug has simply outdone himself with the
cheese selections this year. As they arrive, we conduct a "taste
test" to make sure they are all acceptable, and this year's samples
were outrageously delicious. Brace yourselves for the Flaming Pepper
selection - the top of my head nearly came off because it really
lives up to its name.

Bobbie at Plaza Liquor will have just the
perfect wines to complement the zestiest or the mellowest cheeses as
she is something of a pro at doing just that.

Kathy and Kirsten at Pagosa Baking Company
have come up with the final selections of bite-sized sweets that are
not only in keeping with the Caribbean theme, but sound like heaven.
You can count on a delicious sweet ending whatever it is.

Thanks to our friend, Dan Aupperle of
Citizens Bank, the keg of beer will be there to take care of all
those who prefer the foamy stuff to wine. Pin Stripe Red is the
selection for the evening in the beer category with our thanks to Dan
for providing the option.

There will be two ascensions during
Colorfest Balloon Rally presented by Reach for the Peaks, one on
Saturday and one on Sunday.

The Saturday ascension will be just south of
the Bank of the San Juans on Hot Springs Boulevard, and the Sunday
ascension will take place in the Pagosa Lakes Recreation Center area
around 8-8:30 a.m.

Mike and Liz Marchand have worked for many
years to create the amazing event we enjoy each fall, and although
this has been a particularly difficult time for them because they are
good friends of the Mudrochs, they are moving ahead with all the
Rally arrangements.

The Colorfest party continues Saturday
afternoon at the fairgrounds Extension Building with a picnic,
concert and, weather permitting, a "Margaritaville Balloon Glow" at
dusk.

Vince at Enzo's Catering will be serving up
a "RibFest" dinner with all the trimmings for $10 (adults) and $6,
and you know that when Vince is cooking, you will not leave hungry.

Bluegrass Cadillac featuring the
considerable talents of Randall Davis, Robin Davis, Clay Campbell and
Kevin Dunn will provide our picnic concert this year, so you will
have to learn how to eat and tap your toes at the same time. We're
happy to have this ever-so-popular local group join us this year for
our Colorfest celebration.

In keeping once again with the theme, we
will hold the "Margaritaville Balloon Glow" at dusk if Mother Nature
is good to us. Expect to hear Caribbean steel drums and Jimmy Buffet
tunes during this always awesome spectacle.

Please plan to join us this weekend for what
has become a real Pagosa tradition - Colorfest weekend. Be sure to
buy your tickets in advance so you won't have to pay the extra $5 at
the door for the Wine and Cheese Tasting. We hope to see everyone at
this year's Colorfest Balloon Rally/Wine and Cheese Tasting and
Picnic and Concert.

St. Patrick's Bazaar

Just to make sure that your weekend is
absolutely perfect, St. Pat's Episcopal Church will hold their annual
bazaar Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. just so you won't be bored between the
ascension and the picnic/concert. How thoughtful is that?

The bazaar will be held at the church
located at 225 South Pagosa Blvd., with chili, nachos and drinks
available for you to munch on while you check out all the wonderful
bargains.

Expect to find one-of-a-kind hand-painted
items in the arts and crafts section, St. Pat's cookbooks, the
ever-popular frozen casseroles with more choices than ever (I suggest
you get there early because they tend to sell out of these very
quickly), baked goods (these ladies can bake like no one else),
gently-worn clothing in the boutique, "guy stuff" in the yard sale
and unique and items aplenty in the silent auction section.

All in all, you can eat and enjoy for as
long as you like and contribute to the church's building/landscape
fund at the same time.

SunDowner 2004

For those businesses wishing to host a
SunDowner in 2004, it's time to assign someone in the office to
appear at the Visitor Center Oct. 1, to claim a month.

The SunDowners have become a very popular
way for businesses to showcase who they are and what they do, and
there are only 10 to claim because the Chamber hosts September (Wine
and Cheese Tasting) and January (Annual Mardi Gras).

It's as simple as it can be, but might
require someone to rise a bit earlier than they normally would to be
here.

We encourage you to be here at around 7 a.m.
to make sure you will get the month you want.

As you can imagine, the summer months are
quite competitive because a lot of folks like to have their party
outside.

I believe they are so popular because it's a
fairly easy and simple way to throw a party. Basically, the Chamber
sends the invitations, collects the dough at the door and provides
all the libations and the host business is responsible for the
food.

If you have questions, please give Doug a
call at 264-2360 or just plan to show up bright and early Oct.
1.

Roasting John

Don't forget to pick up your tickets for The
Roasting and Toasting of John Graves to be held Sept. 27 at the
Pagosa Lakes Clubhouse.

This entertaining evening will be sponsored
by Pagosah Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and proceeds will
benefit Friends of the Performing Arts.

Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend
due to the fact that I will be languishing on a beach in Florida
trying to rejuvenate myself, but I certainly will be there in spirit.
Roastings are traditionally a hoot and the victim du jour usually
enjoys it more than anyone there.

Please join the fun Sept. 27 from 6-9 p.m.
at the Pagosa Lakes Clubhouse and feel free to dress as elegantly as
you like. Tickets for this event are $45 and will include a full
catered buffet dinner, wine and entertainment. You may purchase
tickets at WolfTracks Book Store and Coffee Company, the Chamber of
Commerce and Pagosa Baking Company.

Aspens and Balloons

Pertinent to the season would be Bruce
Andersen's upcoming fall photo workshop entitled "From A to B -
Aspens and Balloons" to be held this weekend beginning Friday evening
from 7-9 p.m. at the community center. (You can still attend the Wine
and Cheese Tasting from 5:30 until 7, you see.)

This is an immersion workshop with lots of
hands-on instruction designed for intermediate to advanced students.

The Friday session will be classroom and
slide presentations to stimulate photographic ideas and discussion.

The group will photograph the hot air
balloon ascension early Saturday morning, take a short break and
spend the afternoon and evening in the field photographing fall
colors and other natural splendors.

To reserve your spot and learn more about
the workshop, call the arts council at 264-5020 or Bruce at 731-4645.
Cost for this photo workshop (three sessions) is $125 and $115 for
PSAC and Photo Club members.

Oktoberfest

The second annual Oktoberfest will be held
at the community center Oct. 18, from 4:30 to 11 p.m. offering all
the ingredients that make Oktoberfest popular all over our country
and Europe.

You will find bratwurst, authentic German
potato salad, sauerkraut, dessert and a 19-oz commemorative glass
beer stein to take home with you. The kiddos' meal will be a hot dog,
potato chips and dessert.

For those of you who spent a little more
time in the food lines than you might have liked last year, this
year's double lines should nicely eliminate that problem. The beer
will be of the German persuasion, of course, and is Left Hand
Tabernash, specifically produced for the Oktoberfest season.

Any Oktoberfest worth its salt offers music,
dancing and "zing alongs" and this will be no exception with music
provided by Pauken Schlagel who will grace us with the best
oom-pah-pah around.

Tickets for this event are $15 for adults,
$10 for children 5-12, and seniors with a membership card, $10.
Tickets can be purchased at WolfTracks Bookstore and Coffee Company,
Moonlight Books, Chamber of Commerce or the Senior Center. You will
also be able to purchase tickets at the door on Oct. 18.

Membership

At the genesis of this lovely Colorfest
week, we are especially delighted to welcome two new members and six
renewals.

The anticipation of Colorfest, fall in the
mountains, new members and renewals combine to make it a mighty fine
beginning for us.

James L. Watkins joins us with Silvercreek
Custom Homes, LLC, located at 243 West Log Hill Road. James is the
general contractor and distributor for Jim Barna Log Systems. Jim
Barna offers a wide variety of log profiles with various sizes and
wood species. To learn more about Silvercreek Custom Homes, LLC,
please give James a call at 264-JBLS (5257).

Tom and Gayle Broadbent join us next with a
most unique business, Wings Over Pagosa located at 777 CR 600 (Piedra
Road). Wings Over Pagosa offers two exciting opportunities: the
thrill of flying in their open cockpit Boeing Stearman biplane OR
experiencing the majesty of the San Juans from their Cessna aircraft.
Both planes are flown by an Airline Transport-rated pilot who has
flown more than 11,000 accident-free hours over 36 years. To learn
more about Wings Over Pagosa, please call 264-2349 or (970)
946-6380.

Renewals this week include Janelle Karas
with Pacific Auction Exchange; F.C. Trask with The Lighting Center;
James Huang with Hunan (Chinese) Restaurant; Linda Sapp with Loma
Clay Works; and Mike Dalsaso with Dalsaso Associates. Our Associate
Member renewals this week are Doug and Judy Galles. Many thanks to
one and all, and I hope to see every one of you at the Wine and
Cheese Tasting Friday night.

Library News

Plaques honoring town
clerk

on display at Sisson
Library

Jackie Schick is retiring after serving for
40 years as town clerk.

Her service to this community is well known
and appreciated. In fact, she may be the only person in Archuleta
County to have been recognized in the Congressional Record. In
February, Rep. Scott McInnis read into the record an account of
Jackie's years of dedication as a civil servant.

Jackie had the striking framed tribute
hanging in her office and she graciously loaned it to us to display
at the library for a short time. What an honor for Jackie to be
recognized in this way.

Also on display is Jackie's lifetime
achievement award from the Chamber of Commerce for her considerable
contribution to the town of Pagosa Springs.

Beside the long list of accomplishments
listed in the tribute, we'd like to also express gratitude to Jackie
for her many years of hard work on behalf of the library.

Jackie served as treasurer on the library
board of trustees for twelve years when the library was in one room
in the old Town Hall. Many days she ran the town and the library at
the same time. She retired from the board in 1985.

Please come by and see the two prestigious
plaques honoring a great lady.

New books

"Family Reunion: Everything You Need to Know
to Plan Unforgettable Get-Togethers," by Jennifer Crichton is an
indispensable book for many reasons.

"The first generation tries to preserve, the
second generation tries to forget, the third generation tries to
remember," writes Ted Solotaroff of the urge "to connect with family,
to honor the past and celebrate continuity "

As Crichton tells us, " We are the people
who left home  no other country takes it so in stride when the
members of a family scatter across the face of a continent and still
presume to call themselves close.

"Now with our relative affluence and
assimilation, we have the security to stop, turn around, and look
back. How did we get here from there?"

We are grateful to those who made this life
possible. Reunions are one way to honor our forebears and that
struggle. Now our sense of "home" is much less a place than the
family itself. A reunion can reinvent that feeling of home, place and
culture.

This book is indispensable to anyone wanting
to begin or renew family relationships. It covers everything from
finding the perfect site to intergener-ational games, reunion
etiquette, and cooking for hordes. It is an idea-packed guide with an
insight into family dynamics.

"Einstein's Refrigerator: and Other Stories
From the Flip Side of History," by Steve Silverman is a collection of
weird and bizarre true life tales he gathered to spice up his high
school science lectures. It has two Colorado connections. The first,
Mike the headless chicken who lived for eighteen months in Fruita.

The other concerns WWII and the paper
balloons with bombs the Japanese launched to bomb the United States.
The paper balloons were about 33 feet in diameter filled with
hydrogen gas. They were designed to fly at 38,000 feet and stay aloft
for around 70 hours. They would be carried by the jet stream at
speeds of 200 miles per hour to the United States.

It was an ingenious plan and it is estimated
that 1,000 balloons made it to the North American Continent. We
aren't mentioned in the book but it is my understanding that one of
them made it to Archuleta County. We are researching that little
known fact.

In the meantime, you will enjoy this story
and the other oddities in the book including one about Ernest Vincent
Wright who authored a novel that did not use the letter "E" in any
word. E is used more than any other letter in the alphabet and it
would be very difficult to write anything without using the letter.
Wright's E-less novel was titled "Gadsby." Just one more fun story
for you in this book.

Donations

Thanks for financial help to the building
fund from the Pagosa Women's Club; The Pagosa Springs Music Boosters
Club in memory of David Kruger's step- mother.

For scheduling the veterans' transport
vehicle call Archuleta County Commissioner's Office, Jan Santopietro,
at 246-8300. Please note she is not able to answer VA-related
questions, but does have on hand some general VA information
sources.

The following is a reprint of an earlier
article

Benefit claims up
here

The Archuleta County Veterans Service Office
has seen a substantial growth in VA benefits to veterans in this
area, that directly affect the economy of the county.

VA Compensation and Pension claims directly
affect not only the well being of the veteran, but substantially
affects the economy of Archuleta County.

Benefits to veterans in Archuleta County
increased by 11 percent in 2002, over the year 2001, to a total of
$1,065,000. Compensation and Pension money paid to veterans and/or
surviving spouses and dependents was up 8.6 percent in the same
period, for a total of $990,000. Official VA records indicate 1,273
veterans in Archuleta County were receiving some sort of VA benefit
in 2002. This is a 36-percent increase over the previous year 2001 of
817.

The figures from 2000 to 2002 show a very
large increase in veterans in Archuleta County receiving
benefits.

Veterans receiving compensation or pension
money in that two-year span jumped 25 percent. Other comparisons of
veteran population and other benefits paid to veterans during the two
year period was not available for direct comparison in the VA
official reports.

Impact on county

Why does this impact Archuleta County so
significantly?

Consider that this is direct "new" money
coming from federal sources outside of the state and county. Money
paid directly to veterans in our community. And, those payments are
continuous, in most cases for the life of the veteran or the
dependent. It isn't a onetime payment, it goes on year after
year.

This is very important considering the state
is reducing some budget considerations toward veteran services. The
new money and benefits coming into the county for veterans is from
federal VA sources, not affected by state budget concerns.

The veteran of course needs goods and
services in Archuleta County. The money the veteran receives is
circulated in the community, and the recipients pay taxes on the
sales of those goods and services. Everyone in the community benefits
directly or indirectly from growth in veterans benefit
payments.

A wise investment

It becomes very evident it is a wise
investment for the county to provide good veteran services. The
veteran population of Archuleta County is growing rapidly as more and
more retirees move to our beautiful area. Many of them are
veterans.

The more we invest in helping our veterans
obtain VA benefits, the more it contributes to the economy of the
county. It might be said, providing veteran services actually pays
for the cost of the services, and produces a substantial profit, in
revenue.

Pride in services

Archuleta County can pride itself in being a
leader among Colorado counties, especially rural counties, in having
the vision to provide a high level of veteran's services. It has
built this service to our veterans through a history of strong
support of the Veterans Service Office by past and current county
government officials.

I would like to urge veterans and citizens
of the community to express your appreciation to our county officials
for continued support of veteran's services next time you have the
opportunity. It pays big dividends for all of us, right in our
pocketbooks.

For information on these and other Veterans
benefits please call or stop by the Veterans Service Office located
on thee lower floor of the county courthouse. The office number is
264-2304, the fax number is 264-5949, and e-mail is
afautheree@archuletacounty.org. The office is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Monday through Thursday, Friday by appointment. Bring your DD Form
214 (Discharge) for registration with the county, application for VA
programs, and for filing in the VSO office.

People

Tiffany Nicole (Nikki) Davis and Caleb Kyle
Mellette were married Aug. 9, 2003, at Byers Assembly of
God Church, Byers, Texas, the Rev. Micah Wells officiating. The bride
is the daughter of Loretta and Michael Davis of Pagosa Springs. The
groom is the son of Marsha and John Hill of Cisco, Texas, and Dell
and Sherry Mellette of Pagosa Springs. Misti Davis, sister of the
bride, and Summer Overstreet were bride's attendants. Josh Mellette,
brother of the groom, and Eric Mesker were groomsmen. Flower girls
were Emmy Davis, sister of the bride and Mackenzie Peterlin, cousin
of the bride. Ringbearer was Michael Appleby, another cousin of the
bride. The reception was held in the youth center of the church and
hosted by the bride's parents. The rehearsal dinner, hosted by the
bride's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Cratus Davis, was held in the
fellowship hall of the church. After their honeymoon in San Antonio,
the couple will move to Alaska.

Family and friends join Joe and Faye
Cordova to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Aug.
2. They renewed their wedding vows at the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Catholic Church and then had a reception and dinner in the Pagosa
Springs Community Center. Special thanks to all who came from out of
town.

Wills

Pagosa Springs High School graduate Hank
Wills has accepted the Fort Lewis College Roy Dalpra
Scholarship for the 2003-04 academic year.

A Dean's List student at Fort Lewis, Wills is the son of Jerry and
Vicki Wills of Pagosa Springs.

Roy Dalpra Scholarship recipients receive $1,000. To be eligible
for the award, the recipient must complete a minimum of 15 credit
hours for each of two terms for which the award was received. The
recipient must attain and retain a Fort Lewis College cumulative
grade point average of 2.00 and annual awards may be renewed.
Residents of La Plata County are considered first.

Features

Intro to Alpacas

Fiber Festival offers something
for everyone

By Tess Noel Baker

Staff Writer

Alpacas 101. It was just one of several
presentations offered at the Pagosa Fiber Festival last weekend. On
the final day, at about the last hour, a dozen or so people, in
addition to a few curious alpacas peering through their wire pens,
gathered for the course.

Dave Belt, owner of Echo Mountain Alpacas in
Pagosa Springs, talked from a small platform in the livestock tent at
the Archuleta County Fairgrounds. Around him, visitors mingled with
caged animals and vendors, asking questions, comparing notes,
discussing breeding possibilities and making purchases.

Alpacas 101 started with a little
genealogy.

Alpacas, Belt said, are actually one of six
members of the Camel Family, or Family Camelidae. For that matter, so
are llamas. He asked the audience to guess the other four.

The answers came, but slowly:

- bactrian, the two-humped variety,

- dromedarian, the single-humped camel,

- guanaco, the wild llama, and

- vicuna, a threatened species found in the
Andes, capable of producing just 6-8 ounces a fleece a year.

In this family group, it's truly a matter of
blood being thicker than water. It is the shape of their red blood
cells that ties them together. The camel family has
elliptically-shaped red blood cells capable of using water and oxygen
very efficiently. This, Belt said, allows them to adapt to high
altitudes and extreme weather conditions better than other
animals.

From there, he focused particularly on
alpacas, "sweet-tempered, inquisitive, quiet, pastoral animals."
Females, he said, mature at between 15 and 18 months, or 100 pounds.
Males mature between two to three years. Gestation for an alpaca is
between 11 and 12 months and births are almost always single. Babies
are called crias and are born weighing between 15 and 19 pounds. In
the first weeks of life, they will gain about a half pound a
day.

Before being bred again, Belt said, an
alpaca mother needs just two to three weeks to recover. Unlike some
other animals, alpacas show no physical signs of their 18-21 day
reproductive cycle. The weeks after birth are the best time to
pinpoint reproductive activity.

Because of their foot structure and
digestive habits, Belt said, alpacas are especially suited to small
acreages. Their feet - although they may look like hooves at a quick
glance - are made up of a hard toenail on top of a soft, leatherlike
pad.

In the Andes, the pad acts like a snowshoe,
spreading the weight. In a pasture, Belt said, the shape of the foot
and the animal's relatively low weight help prevent soil
compaction.

In addition, he said, the alpacas have very
little odor. And, they have communal dung piles. Alpacas will select
two or three places as a "bathroom," making for easy cleanup and less
of a fly problem. It also prevents contamination of an entire
field.

"They do their job to make things easy for
us," he said. Alpacas are sheared once a year, producing between five
and 10 pounds of fleece. (In South America, Belt said, they are also
used for food and the meat tastes something like flank steak.) Here
in North America, their fleece can be woven, knitted or felted into a
variety of products for sale. Belt's daughter, Kiva, demonstrated two
methods for spinning the fleece into thread - a drop spindle and a
spinning wheel.

From there, it was time for a chance to pet
Champ, a real, live alpaca wearing a brightly colored halter.

"I'd say the disposition of the alpaca is
very much like that of a cat," Belt said. Some alpacas are aloof,
wary of human touch. Others are curious, accepting of touch and
attention. Champ was one of the latter.

Belt said, in his experience, a modified
massage on the neck or flank works best. He told those interested to
approach the llama where they could be seen. Then, using a closed
fist, extend two fingers toward the animal and rub in small
circles.

"The slower you move your fingertips, the
better they seem to like it and the longer they will stay still,"
Belt said.

A slightly larger crowd gathered for
"Nutrition for Fiber Growing Animals," by Dr. Kerry Hoobler-Riek, of
San Juan Veterinary Services, another free presentation.

Good nutrition, she said, is a key element
to raising any kind of healthy, happy animal. Alpacas and llamas are
even easier than some because they've adapted to be able to extract
more nutrition from lower quality food.

In their native habitat in South America,
these creatures can be found at 12,000 feet elevation. Their
nutrition is available on a sort of feast or famine cycle,
Hoobler-Riek said. During a short, wet season, the grasses grow well,
forming lush pastures. The rest of the year, grasses might be
sparse.

Although it's possible to get some
nutritional tips from cattle and sheep studies, she added, llamas and
alpacas are not true ruminants, having three parts to their stomach
instead of four.

The first two parts to the stomach contain a
bacteria necessary to break down the stems and leaves encountered in
their main food staple - grass hay. The final section is a "true
stomach," where acid secretions finish the food breakdown.

It takes about four days for food to work
its way from one end of the animal to the other, she added.

Water and protein are perhaps the two most
important elements of the alpaca and llama diet. Water should be
clean and fresh. Protein should come from a good grass hay.

"If it looks moldy, sunbleached or older
than one year, it's probably not a good idea to feed it,"
Hoobler-Reik said. Owners of alpacas and llamas also need to be
careful not to feed too much alfalfa hay because it's actually too
high in protein.

For energy, these animals need just a small
amount of carbohydrates, or grains. Too much can cause serious health
issues.

As far as vitamin and mineral supplements,
Hoobler-Riek said, people should be careful. If concerned, they
should have soil tests or hay tests done to determine if the feed or
pasture is deficient or toxic in anything.

"Most of it's common sense," she said. "If
what you're feeding is working for the animal, and they like it,
you're probably doing a good job."

Both presentations were part of the
three-day festival. From Friday to Sunday, beginners through breeders
of fiber animals had the opportunity to visit, exchange information
and educate others on the world of fiber animals. It was organized
through the Pagosa Fiber Festival Inc., a nonprofit organization
established in 2001 to educate the public, as well as support and
promote the fiber arts and those who raise fiber-bearing
livestock.

Pagosa's
Past

It was The Big One: the flood
of 1911

By John M. Motter

PREVIEW Columnist

The flood of 1911. PHEW! That was a
flood!

It's about that time of year when the
old-timers start talking about the flood of 1911. When I say
old-timers, I'm not talking about those of us who've only been here
20 or 30 years or so. We don't know nuthin'.

I'm talking about old-timers who remember
hearing railroad whistles in Pagosa Springs, folks who watched
thousands of sheep and cows kick up dust down Main Street. Fast food
in those days was the peanut butter and jelly sandwich your mother
made, or maybe it was frijoles wrapped in a tortilla.

Probably no eyewitnesses remain since that
was 92 years ago, unless you count Faye Brown, and even Faye wasn't
too far removed from her crib at that time. And so all of the stories
we hear are second hand except for the excellent and exciting
newspaper accounts.

Still, when the aspens first begin to blush
and snow spots the high mountains like a bad case of dandruff,
old-timers begin the remember whens.

One of the striking things about the flood
of 1911 was how widespread the destruction was. Not only were Pagosa
Springs and Archuleta County hammered, every county in the San Juans
was hit on both sides of the mountains.

Folks in Pagosa Springs had little warning
of the impending disaster. In those days, the town was laid out
pretty much as it is now with one exception. In the down town area,
the bridge across the San Juan connected San Juan Street so that, as
you were driving east along San Juan Street and approaching the
river, you could continue dead ahead across the river and go to the
hot springs. The bridge we currently use to cross the river to the
Hot Springs and post office was not installed until the 1950s.

The other bridge at the east end of town was
also in place allowing east bound travelers who wanted to cross the
Rockies by way of Elwood Pass to leave in that direction. Wolf Creek
Pass had not been dreamed of. In fact, impetus for the creation of
Wolf Creek Pass originated as a direct result of the flood of
1911.

Nothing particularly remarkable happened
during the year of 1911 prior to the flood. Sullenberger's big mill
in South Pagosa was still cranking out lumber at the rate of 100,000
board feet or more a day. The Pagosa and Northern's narrow gauge
train still made its daily trip between Pagosa Junction and Pagosa
Springs.

Other tracks branched across the county like
a spider web. Pagosa Lumber Company tracks reached toward the West
Fork of the San Juan, up Four Mile Road, over toward Yellowjacket,
and points in between. Another branch ran down the west side of the
San Juan, branched into Taylor and Burns canyons, and nearly reached
Trujillo. Even more, New Mexico Lumber Company tracks probed from
Edith up the Navajo, Little Navajo, Coyote Creek, Blanco and Little
Blanco, and Echo Creek, finally ending on Mill Creek a scant few
miles from town.

Clearly, lumber was king.

Not far behind the lumber barons were cattle
and sheep ranchers. Folks who lived here still made a living directly
from Mother Earth. Tourism had not yet become the dominating
industry. The nurturing qualities of the Great Pagosa Hot Springs
attracted a few health seekers. Diehard fishermen still came to
exploit the native rivers. Elk and deer had nearly vanished, but a
guide mountain lion hunting service was conducted from the Arlington
Hotel.

Pagosa Springs was moving into the modern
era with telephones, central water, electricity, and such. To be
sure, those modern conveniences didn't extend much beyond the town
limits. Still, those who long for the apparent innocence of the good
old days would have liked the Pagosa of 1911.

As winter approached, life for locals moved
along at its usual pace. Of course there was no radio or television.
Young boys still gathered the town cow herd each morning, drove the
bawling bovines outside of town for grass during the day, and
returned them to their respective owners in the evening.

Sheepherders drove thousands of sheep down
from the high country, sold off most of the lambs and some of the
breeding stock that had outlived its usefulness, then drove the
survivors on south to places in northern New Mexico like Gobernador
to escape the harsh Pagosa winters.

School age kids belonging on ranches outside
of town moved into town where they boarded with someone or, if they
were lucky, their families also had homes in town. Traveling from the
ranches to school in town was a daunting task in those days.

The flood came suddenly and without warning
Thursday, Oct. 5, 1911. Headlines in the Pagosa Springs SUN read,
"San Juan Breaks RecordGets on Rampage and Leaves Death,
Devastation, and Ruin in its Path.

The newspaper writer waxed elegant, an
overtone of horror gilding his words. "Tuesday morning the sun rose
in all its glory and the day was an ideal one. Wednesday morning a
drizzling rain set in and kept up until torrents caused the San Juan
to change from a smiling, pleasant stream to an angry, raging,
terrific river. Early yesterday morning (Thursday) the citizens
became aware that dire calamity was about to prevail on Hermosa
street and in the park vicinity. Business, for the time being, was
suspended and all rushed to the aid of those in the doomed district.
All teams available were brought into action, and all goods that
could be were hauled out."

More next week on the flood of 1911.

Editorial

Make a change

Here's an idea for health service district
board members. The situation is on the road to resolution with the
expansion of private medical practice in the area so, to hasten
continued improvement from now until the May elections when many of
you might lose seats on the board, why not do two things: change your
leadership and listen to some people with expertise in the medical
field?

If it wasn't clear before your Sept. 16
meeting, it is obvious now your current leadership is too
confrontational, too lacking in diplomatic skill to meet one of your
recently stated core values: to exhibit "Leadership at all levels:
challenging the process, inspiring vision and leading the way." It's
time for a change to produce that leadership.

Who are the experts you can listen
to?

Local physicians, practicing and retired:
People who know something about providing medical services to a
patient and a population.

While you seek the advice of experts,
restrain for a while your quest to reproduce another publicly-funded
medical clinic and contemplate the future with more information in
hand. After all, you've stated you value "Innovation: searching for
new and creative ways of providing service."

With the departure of local physicians and
staff from the Dr. Mary Fisher Medical Clinic, basic medical service
is heading back where it belongs: to the private sector. The use of
public dollars to fund primary medical care is questionable:
government dominated medicine is arguably ineffective.

Believe it or not, Drs. Jim Pruitt, Mark
Weinpahl, John Piccaro and Bob Brown have much to offer, if you will
listen. So do the many retired physicians and medical administrators
living in the community, as do physicians you hire or contract with
in your operation. Perhaps much of the revenue you have available
could be better directed to supplementary, additive clinical systems
and processes. How do you know what those processes are if you don't
discuss them with experts in a non-adversarial atmosphere? Prolonged,
extensive and productive discussions with local physicians can only
benefit all of us

Jim Pruitt made several telling remarks at
the League of Women Voter's forum last week. He urged the board to
consider the original goals of the district, among others support of
a center to provide urgent and emergency care, lab facilities, a
birthing facility, those things necessary for outpatient surgery. He
spoke about the district's goal of facilitating a system that
integrated and supplemented the skills of all local physicians. This
fits one of your core values like a glove. "We will strive to provide
an integrated, expanding and educating health care system while
maintaining quality professional service for our community."

It is time to take these ideas into account
as you discuss our health care future.

True, things have been chaotic but there is
a positive aspect to chaos. True, it is frustrating when you are
confronted by loud and self-interested outside voices, but chaos
affords opportunities to be creative, to aspire to greater things, to
forge new allegiances and reestablish old connections.

Your ad placed in last week's SUN indicates
the district is hardly a dead entity. There are people working for
and in the district who are serious about their commitments to the
community. Your mission, at this point, is still a tabula rasa - an
empty slate on which you can write anything you want.

Don't do it without bridging the gap between
you and local experts. Don't attempt to do it with your current
leadership. Make a change and extend a hand again, reform the Medical
Advisory Committee; you are in a unique position to do it. If the
gesture is refused, it can't be said you didn't try.

Nothing like a long walk on a crisp
near-fall morning, a sky clear of any form of cloud, and the blooms
of fall bursting forth along the pathways.

That's one of the beauties of living in
Pagosa Country ... flowers displaying for all the benefits of a few
days of rain.

Turn south on 10th street at the elementary
school. Buses being washed at the bus barn, soccer fields glistening
with the dew of a fall morning as they ready themselves for the
rumble of hundreds of tiny feet with the parks and recreation
department's annual leagues about to begin.

Follow the roadway around the hill and then
stay on 10th. A man and two teens cutting and stacking wood for the
winter; another man sealing the blacktop on his drive/parking
area.

Note the historic cemetery has been cleaned
up, the gate locked and the fence portion that had been broken down
has been repaired. Everywhere preparations are under way, people,
places and things repairing their countenance for the season in which
we'll set the stage for winter.

Keep on going. Nests high in the pines near
Hillcrest Avenue seem to be spewing small wings in all directions.
The young, nurtured in spring and trained in summer, are now learning
to survive on their own.

An older woman, wearing a sweater and a
bandanna, is raking twigs from her yard. Two doors down three
youngsters are getting in some final time on the trampoline before it
has to be stored for winter.

La Plata Electric has roll upon roll of wire
of varying types and sizes stored in its yard just below the radio
station. Winter is known to wreak havoc on suspended lines when they
become laden with heavy wet snow and ice. These wires will be on hand
to fix the outages.

Turn back downhill at Apache and follow it
to 8th Street. On the way you see a man spreading winter treatment on
a small lawn and get a hearty wave.

Go north on 8th and see the improved
skateboard units in South Pagosa Park, note the pine cones rapidly
ripening on nearby trees and the enthusiastic call of a high-flying
gaggle of geese as they head for the river area.

Do they know something we don't? You wonder.
Are they heading south or just to warmer waters?

Fence posts being set as a yard is tucked in
for the winter; new roofing being installed to keep the home warmer,
too; excavation for a sewer line extension to a new home.

The sights and sounds of Pagosa are
everywhere.

Turn down to 7th street and pass a new home
for an old business that has just added the striping to its parking
lot, giving a sense of stability.

Take 7th north, across San Juan, and past a
tiny brook with two little boys casting play fish lines into the
water from plastic poles hoping, as do their fathers and older
brothers, to hook the big one.

Round the corner onto north 6th and you see
another new home nearing completion on the hill above. This stroll
will be continued next week.

Legacies

90 years ago

Taken from Pagosa Springs New Era files of Sept. 19, 1913

A male gray wolf 27 inches tall and measuring 5 feet 5 inches from
tip to tip was killed on the West & Hott ranch this week by Bill
South, who on horseback outran and killed the varmint with his
sixshooter. Another wolf escaped by running in an opposite direction.
Heretofore there was supposed only one wolf in the section.

Civic pride in Pagosa Springs is about as active as an Egyptian
mummy. The commercial club, the boys' band, the public library, all
have reached or are reaching a state of innocuous desuetude.

The school board is to be commended to stamp out if possible the
tendency among some parents to allow their children to remain out of
school or attend very irregularly.

75 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Sept. 21, 1928

Fire from the engine of the Henry Akers sawmill, located near Dyke
about Sunday noon set fire to the mill, which was completely
destroyed as well as about one mile square of cut-over timber land.
Desperate efforts were successfully made to save considerable lumber
and ties, but numerous shacks were burned. The Forest Service took
charge and confined the fire to a comparatively small area
considering the enormous start that it had.

Mr. and Mrs. George Alley and the former's brother, Albert Alley,
left Monday for Denver. Before departing George closed a deal for the
purchase of the E.M. (Doc) Taylor Variety store and will return in a
few days to take possession.

50 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Sept. 18, 1953

Hugh Farr, "the fiddlin' fool" of the Sons of the Pioneers, went
to bat Wednesday during the Milk Maid contest at the State Fair and
helped Peggy Seavy, 14, of Bayles, take the honor with 10.9 pounds of
milk in three minutes. Gov. Dan Thornton comforted the cow being
milked during the contest. Peggy said she's been milking for eight
years, but usually without music.

For the past several Sundays, members of the local American Legion
Post have been gathering down at the hall in the park and started to
work on the construction of the new addition to the east side of the
hall. The foundation and plumbing have already been completed and the
cement block walls are on the way up.

25 years ago

Taken from SUN files of Sept. 21, 1978

The area received some very welcome moisture over the weekend with
a total of .73 inches of moisture being received. This was in the
form of rain at lower elevations but on the high mountains about six
inches of new snow fell. This left the peaks with white tops and
indicated that summer is no longer with us.

A 25-year-old man was rescued by Mounted Rangers, EMTs, and a WCO
this past weekend. Richard Povich accidently shot himself in the leg
with a revolver while camped at Fish Lake. A helicopter was summoned
to bring him out, but could not land because of weather conditions.
After a day and a half and two nights he was brought out on
horseback.

The Web Site contains material which is protected by international Copyright and trademark laws. No material may be copied, reproduced, republished, broadcast or distributed in any way or decompiled, except that you may download one copy of the Materials on any single computer for your personal, non-commercial home use only, provided you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices. On-line publication, Copyright 2003, The Pagosa Springs SUN. Web page design, Copyright 2003, The Pagosa Springs SUN, Inc.